INDIA
Bhatkal revealed to the officials the places he had recced, stayed in and interacted with other members of his network.
Of all the places in Goa, why did Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal chose Chapora, a village known for its narcotics trade and drug shacks, to lie low and reconnoiter the state for his terror plans?
There was a reason for this overlap between the world of terror and drugs, say top police officials, who escorted Bhatkal and National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials around Goa earlier this week for a probe.
Bhatkal revealed to the officials the places he had recced, stayed in and interacted with other members of his network.
Police say Bhatkal is responsible for more than 100 deaths from terror strikes across India. The Indian Mujahideen co-founder is a key accused in the German Bakery blast in Pune in 2012.
"The narcotics network everywhere, including Goa, works on pay-offs to the local police officials, who then turn a blind eye to places like Chapora, where drugs are openly sold," a senior police official said on condition of anonymity.
"It is a perfect hideout because police aren't 'interested' in visiting these areas for obvious reasons," he said.
Chapora, a narrow-laned, fishing village 25 km from the capital, may not be a must-visit place for most of the several hundred thousand tourists who land in Goa every year.
But for those looking for hashish, marijuana or a few pills of Ecstasy or even a vial of Ketamine, a horse-tranquliser which doubles up as a recreational drug, Chapora is the place to be.
Some of the biggest listed drug dealers in Goa hail from Chapora or its outlying areas.
That the drug mafia is a force to be reckoned with can be gauged from local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Dayanand Mandrekar's speech at an official government function to inaugurate a new police station in Chapora last month.
Mandrekar, also the art and culture minister, had called an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer a "goonda" (crook) for his repeated raids on drug-laced rave parties held in the vicinity of Chapora regularly during the tourist season every year.
With the village economy driven by drugs and the obvious hostility towards sincere policing, Chapora was ideal for Bhatkal to consider as a potential place to lie low and a safe enough haven to rig together bombs for terror strikes, say police officials.
"The NIA, during the search of the house, found bomb-making equipment," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told a press conference on Wednesday.
The bomb-making equipment was a variety of acids and other materials.
The contraband equipment and his room had been abandoned by Bhatkal, after which his landlord stashed away his belongings and the bomb-making ingredients, NIA officials said.
The chief minister too did not rule out the use of Goa and its nooks and crannies like Chapora by criminals for "cooling off" after committing crimes.
"We have noticed that many wanted people from other parts of the country are staying in Goa during the cool-off period. If anyone is found giving shelter to such criminals, he will be considered as being involved," Parrikar said.
Chapora's last tryst with fame was that it was used as a location for Bollywood film Dum Maaro Dum, Rahul Sippy's treatise on the narcotics industry in Goa.
SHOCKING! Bride's family cancels wedding at last moment over groom's low...
Meet Trisha and Sanidhi, daughters of BJP's Parvesh Verma, who defeated Arvind Kejriwal
New entrant in grocery quick-commerce, ready to compete with industry giants
Transforming the news and media industry with Generative AI: Expert insights by Sanjay Jain
Dr Tanvi Tijoriwala, ND shedsputs light on balancing skin barrier during rising temperatures
How PM Modi's magic shattered Arvind Kejriwal and his third-term hope in Delhi?
Ahmedabad: Fire breaks out at Sabarmati bullet train station, check details
Meet Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwals's wife, who was former IRS officer, met him during...
BIG blow for Meta employees, Mark Zuckerberg's company to layoff employees from..., reason is...
Amitabh Bachchan sparks major concern among fans with cryptic post, writes 'time to go'
Taylor Swift 'feels used' by Blake Lively, wishes she didn't drag her into Justin Baldoni case
Meet IAS officer who failed five times before cracking UPSC exam, cleared in 6th attempt with AIR...
Delhi Election Result 2025 Live Updates: Check full list of winners and losers in Delhi elections
Who is Kabir Bahia, Kriti Sanon's rumoured boyfriend who hid his face from paps
Delhi Election Result 2025: AAP's Arvind Kejriwal vs BJP's Parvesh Verma; key contests to watch out
Bank holidays in February 2025: Check if banks are open or closed on February 8?
Cristiano Ronaldo sends heartfelt retirement message to former Real Madrid teammate Marcelo Viera
Jeet Adani, Diva Shah are now married! Here's why their wedding was more than a mere celebration
IIT-BHU student gets highest package of Rs..., average package in 2025 is...
Music composer Anu Malik sells two Mumbai flats in Santacruz West for Rs..., co-owner is...
Jeet Adani and Diva Shah are now married; video of varmala ceremony goes viral, WATCH
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding: Gautam Adani shares first pics of son's wedding, see here
Can Kejriwal win prestige battle? What are the key factors that dominated Delhi assembly polls 2025?
Subhash Ghai makes big investment, buys plush 4BHK apartment in Mumbai for...
Metovalex App Review 2025: Legit Or Scam Trading AI? - Real User Facts!
Deepinder Goyal's Zomato rebranded Eternal: Everyone has the same question
Thief gifts Rs 3cr house to girlfriend, everyone shocked after...
Who is Meghnad S? YouTuber and journalist who contested Delhi assembly polls 2025 from...
Does Sanya Malhotra's 'Mrs' promote a no-marriage culture among women?
BIG blow to Sundar Pichai as Google loses Rs 17501260000000 due to…
Caring for Ageing Parents? Essential tips to manage health, finances, and well-being
Meet Gautam Adani’s daughter-in-law Paridhi Adani: Know about her assets, career, family, and more
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding: Inside pics from Gautam Adani's son's wedding festivity
Why has Premanand Maharaj stopped his morning yatras at 2 am?
Sonu Sood BREAKS SILENCE on arrest warrant against him in fraud case: 'It is sad that celebs...'
Akshata Murty once confronted her father and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy: 'My real dad is...'
Meet Alexis Wilkins, Trump's FBI chief pick Kash Patel's 'mystery girlfriend,' her profession is...
Fire breaks out at Mahakumbh Nagar camp, officials say no casualties reported so far
Who is Mohini Mohan Datta, mystery man set to get Rs 500 crore through Ratan Tata's will?
Cristiano Ronaldo makes shocking statement, breaks Portugal's hearts: 'I never thought about...'
Ludhiana court issues arrest warrant against Sonu Sood in fraud case
Happy Rose Day 2025: Significance of different coloured roses on Day 1 of Valentine's week