Sources said that Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, who was recently arrested by the Central agencies, has reportedly told his interrogators that “he had received instructions from his Pakistani-based handler to target Cyberabad so that foreign companies refrain from expanding their business in India”.
About the Pune German Bakery blast on February 13, 2010, that left 17 people dead, including four foreigners, Yasin said that he had planted the bomb in the shop which was frequented by many visitors. The reason was to cause the maximum damage and therefore the explosive material was placed near gas cylinders, Yasin reportedly told his interrogators.
Sources said Yasin also gave details about Iqbal and Riyaz Bhatkal and said that they had not been coming to India. He said that Iqbal had visited Nepal earlier this year and was using a satellite phone to talk to his masters in Pakistan. Yasin formed IM with his brother Riyaz and associates Riyaz Shahbandri, Abdul Subhan Qureshi, Sadiq Israr Sheikh and gangster-turned-terrorist Amir Reza Khan. He was a trained engineer and grew to become an explosives expert.
The IM, patronised by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, was designated a terrorist group by the government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in June 2010. The banned outfit was declared by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2011.