City police are finding it hard to get an Interpol alert against the serial blasts mastermind because he has no previous criminal record
City police are finding it hard to get an Interpol alert against the serial blasts mastermind because he has no previous criminal record
The city police is yet to recommend an Interpol red corner notice against fugitive Riyaz Bhatkal, the mastermind of the Bangalore and Gujarat serial blasts.
Joint commissioner of police (crime) Alok Kumar admitted that they have not yet recommended a red corner notice against him. The reason the police have not moved on getting a red corner notice issued is reportedly because it involves a tedious and long procedure.
Procedure requires that to qualify for an Interpol red corner notice the culprit should be involve in several important cases of national and international ramification. Curiously, Riyaz Bhatkal did not have a single case pending against him before his name cropped up in connection with the Bangalore blasts and other terrorist activities.
This is a clear indication that the Bangalore police are finding it difficult to issue a red corner notice against the fugitive.
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The lack of a criminal record will delay police procedures to get the notice issued, and make it easier for the operative to slip out of India.
Smuggler turned terrorist
As the founder of the dreaded Indian Mujahideen (IM), Bhatkal had reportedly gained the close proximity of LeT top brass, and is one of the most wanted terrorists in the country. Bhatkal's name first surfaced after Indian Mujahideen members were arrested by the investigating agency named him as the man who founded IM.
Riyaz started off his criminal career by selling smuggled goods in around Bhatkal, and was in no way connected to terrorism. However a couple of years back he went to Lucknow and got introduced to a few people, including some elements from Pakistan. According to the police, this was a turning point in his life.
It was from then that he got actively involved with the likes of Lashkar, soon turning into one of India's most wanted men. According to the confession of various terrorists from Kerala, Karnataka, Hyderabad and Pune, Bhatkal had made arrangements for the bombs that were used in the serial blasts.
Investigations and confessions so far in the case all point to Bhatkal as the kingpin who set up the Indian Mujahideen at the behest of the Lashkar.