A Delhi court has ordered framing of charges against banned terrorist organization Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and several of his operatives for conspiring to wage war against India in 2012.
Additional Sessions Judge Shailendra Malik observed that the digital data extracted from the equipment seized from Bhatkal showed several video clips of jihadi literature including writings justifying the killing of non-Muslims in the name of jihad. The court said that there is enough evidence to prosecute the accused.
The court, in its order on March 31, noted that prima facie the accused, who were members of the Indian Mujahideen, hatched a criminal conspiracy to wage war against India. The judge said that Bhatkal’s chats showed that a nuclear attack was planned in Surat after the Muslims were evacuated.
A chat between the accused shows the plan of IM to plant nuclear bomb in Surat city and drive out Muslims from Surat city before such terrorist act is carried out… clear from minute analysis of chats running into several pages It would be surmised that Bhatkal was not only involved in carrying out earlier terrorist activities along with other accused but also in planning future terrorist activities with the help of Maoists in Nepal for collecting arms, ammunition etc. Were, the court said.
The court noted that Bhatkal was not only involved in a larger conspiracy, but was also instrumental in designing and manufacturing the IED (Improvised Explosive Device). It said that in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, the IM functionaries recruited new members on a large scale for the commission of terrorist activities in various parts of India, with active assistance and support from Pakistan-based associates as well as sleeper cells. Support included. country to commit terrorist acts by bomb blasts at prominent places in India, especially Delhi.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) told the court that Indian Mujahideen operatives and its frontal organizations were receiving regular funds from abroad through hawala channels for their terrorist activities.
It said that the accused used to raise the issue of Babri Masjid, Gujarat riots and other alleged atrocities on Muslims in order to radicalize the minds of Muslim youth in an attempt to recruit them for terrorist activities.
The court framed charges against Bhatkal, Mohd Danish Ansari, Mohd Aftab Alam, Imran Khan, Syed, Obaid ur Rehman, Asadullah Akhtar, Uzair Ahmed, Mohd Tehseen Akhtar, Haider Ali and Zia ur Rehman. The judge discharged Manzar Imam, Ariz Khan and Abdul Wahid Siddibbappa, saying the prosecution had failed to produce prima facie evidence against them.
Advocates M S Khan and Kausar Khan, appearing for the accused, opposed the NIA’s submission claiming that the evidence produced by the probe agency has already been taken into account in an earlier trial against an accused and only those Evidence cannot be considered. Again in the second trial of the same accused or even with other co-accused.
The defense counsel said they would challenge the order in the high court.