Yasin Bhatkal fled Mumbai by train just before 13/7 blasts

Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative and mastermind of the 13/7 blasts in Mumbai Yasin Bhatkal fled the city prior to the terror attack in a passenger train. He was accompanied by a burqa-clad woman, eyewitnesses told the police. He is currently believed to be somewhere in North India, sources said.

Sources in the security establishment told DNA that Bhatkal came to Mumbai on June 28, 2011, and fled on July 13, 2011, the day Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House and Dadar were bombed. The police then checked the records of a train heading towards northern India from the city. Investigations revealed Bhatkal was on that train.

“We showed 17 photographs, including Bhatkal’s, to some passengers who were on that train. They identified Bhatkal and said he was with a burqa-clad woman,” police said. “He could have purposely taken the woman along to avoid suspicion as such trains are checked after blasts in the city.”

“We do not have details of the woman accompanying Bhatkal. We don’t even know whether she had links with the IM or participated actively in executing the serial blasts in Mumbai. We have no idea since when she was in the city,” the officer added.

While probing the 13/7 blasts case, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad squad came across some SIM cards used by IM operatives. The terrorists procured them through fraudulent means. The police have also come across the number which they suspect was used by Bhatkal who also used names such as Mohammed Ahmed Zarar Sadibappa, Shahu, Shahrukh and Imran.