Iqbal Bhatkal
Iqbal Shahbandri aka Iqbal Bhatkal | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Organization | Indian Mujahideen |
Iqbal Bhatkal aka Iqbal Shahbandri is the ideologue, leader and wanted terrorist of Indian Mujahideen, a terrorist group based in India. He is the brother of Riyaz Bhatkal aka Shah Riyaz Ahmad Mohammed Ismail Shahbandari,[1] one of the Indian Mujahideen's three top commanders and is currently based in Karachi, Pakistan.[2]
Early life
Iqbal Bhatkal was born in the South Indian fishing town of the Bhatkal in the Uttara Kannada district of the state of Karnataka. His brother, Riyaz, was a bright student, but Iqbal was not. He attempted to get his diploma in Construction Technology eighteen times, but he failed every time. Then Iqbal changed his field of study to Unani medicine, although his real interests were in religion. He took part in activities of the Islamic movement Tablighi Jamaat and listened to many lectures by Zakir Naik, a Muslim who founded the Islamic Research Foundation. These lectures seemed to have a deep impact of Iqbal and are said to have led him to violence.[3]
Militancy
Iqbal is the mastermind of the Mumbai train blasts, he was also responsible for providing logistics for serial blasts in Hyderabad. He was actively involved in Jaipur blasts.[1] He was also involved in the Germany bakery blast, which resulted in the death of seventeen and injury of sixty-four people.[4] Iqbal had personally supervised the transport of explosives for Ahmedabad and Delhi blasts. He has taken over the leadership of IM and now recruits cadres for the terror outfit to carry out attacks against India.[1]
According to Pune Police, Mohsin Chaudhari, an accused for the German Bakery blast was recruited by Iqbal Shabandari, while Iqbal was living in Mumbai. Iqbal made friends with him during a religious function while he was in Pune. Iqbal kept in touch with him constantly for the next three years. With the help of Mohsin and Iqbal's other associates, they were able to set up an Indian Mujahideen base in Pune.[5] Iqbal Shabandari had started his career as a fervent proselytiser for the largely apolitical Tablighi Jamaat and later on became an Islamist ideologue who recruited several Pune men into the Indian Mujahideen. While the two Bhatkal brother were living in a rented apartment in Khondwa, Pune they presided over terrorist networks that later carried out multiple bombings across the country.[6]
In 2007, it is believed that he wrote the manifesto that was sent to the media before they carried out terrorist attacks in the Indian cities of Lucknow, Varanasi, and Faizabad.[3] In 2008 Iqbal had composed the three e-mails were sent to media by hacking the Wi-Fi network in Mumbai.[1] In all the cases above Iqbal is an absconding accused.
Iqbal is currently based in Karachi, Pakistan along with his brother Riyaz Bhatkal and operate in India with the help of Yasin Bhatkal.[1] Yasin Bhatkal is another main leader of the Indian Mujahideen. They are currently working on the "Karachi project" along with the Inter Services Intelligence and the LeT.[3]
Iqbal Bhatkal's name was listed in the list of 50 most wanted criminals sheltered in Pakistan.[7] He was also the first leader of the Indian Mujahideen to have his name added to the list of the most wanted by the Indian government by the Central Bureau of Investigation.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e Gupta, Shishir (April 8, 2012). "Pak-based terrorists involved in cases in India". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ "Interpol warrant for Bangalore stadium attack suspect soon: police". The Hindu. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d Jamal, A. (2012, September 28). A Profile of Iqbal Bhatkal: The First Indian Mujahideen Leader Added to India’s Most Wanted List. Retrieved December 10, 2012, from The Jamestown Foundation website: http://www.jamestown.org/ single/
- ^ Cops give evidence on Bhatkal's role. (n.d.). The Times of India. Retrieved from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- ^ Deshmukh, C., & Keskar, P. (n.d.). Bhatkal brothers spent 8 years to set up IM base. Daily News & Analysis, India. Retrieved from http://www.dnaindia.com/ india/report_bhatkal-brothers-spent-8-years-to-set-up-im-base_1751670
- ^ Swami, Praveen (February 17, 2010). "In city scarred by terror, family confronts its demons". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ "India releases list of '50 most wanted' sheltered in Pak". May 12, 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.