Following the statement made by Indian Mujahideen operative Salman aka Chota in Uttar Pradesh recently that Riyaz Bhatkal was planning terror activities targeting Mumbai, the Mumbai Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) will carry out investigations in Bhatkal and Mangalore on Monday.
In 2004, Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal trained youngsters of Bhatkal town to smuggle guns and ammunition. They also trained the youth to procure components of guns, bombs and other weapons. Later, the group came to be known as Indian Mujahideen.
Earlier, ATS teams from Mumbai had found incriminating literature from the bothers’ residence in Bhatkal. Later, the group carried out strikes in Jaipur, Surat, Delhi, Mumbai, Assam, Pune, Ahmedabad and Varanasi.
The German Bakery blast in Pune brought them into sharp focus, with National Investigation Agency sleuths descending onto Bhatkal. They found out eight other ‘trainees’ had carried out blasts in the country.
