Samad’s arrest brings another pair of ‘Bhatkal’ brothers in focus

With the arrest of Pune German Bakery blast key suspect Abdul Samad, another pair of Bhatkal brothers, active in terrorist operations in India, has come to light.

Samad was arrested on Sunday night after he arrived at Mangalore airport from Dubai.

He and his brother Yasin are believed to have worked in close coordination with Riyaz and Iqbal Shahabandri, alias Bhatkal, who founded the Indian Mujahideen (IM), and are among the most wanted in connection with many terrorist operations in India.

The ‘Bhatkal brothers’, Riyaz and Iqbal, hail from Bhatkal town in Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka, and so do Abdul Samad and his brother Yasin Siddibapa, alias Bhatkal, sons of a businessman.