Iqbal Bhatkal

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Iqbal Bhatkal
Born1970
Bhatkal, Karnataka, India
Nationality Indian
Organization Indian Mujahideen
Relatives Riyaz Bhatkal (brother)

Iqbal Shahbandri (born 1970), known as Iqbal Bhatkal, is the co-founder, ideologue, leader and wanted terrorist of the Indian Mujahideen, an Islamist terrorist group based in India. He is the brother of another IM co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal, [1] and is one of the Indian Mujahideen's three top commanders. Both him and his brother are currently based in Karachi, Pakistan. [2]

Contents

Early life

Iqbal Bhatkal was born as Iqbal Shahbandri in the South Indian fishing town of the Bhatkal in the Uttara Kannada district of the state of Karnataka. His brother, Riyaz, was a bright student, but Iqbal was not. He attempted to get his diploma in Construction Technology eighteen times, but failed every time. Then Iqbal changed his field of study to Unani medicine, although his real interests were in religion. He took part in activities of the Islamic movement Tablighi Jamaat and listened to many lectures by Zakir Naik, a Muslim who founded the Islamic Research Foundation. These lectures seemed to have a deep impact of Iqbal and are said to have led him to violence. [3]

Terrorism

He was involved in the Germany bakery blast, which resulted in the death of seventeen and injury of sixty-four people. [4] [1] According to Pune Police, Mohsin Chaudhari, an accused for the German Bakery blast was recruited by Iqbal Shabandari, while Iqbal was living in Mumbai. Iqbal made friends with him during a religious function while he was in Pune. Iqbal kept in touch with him constantly for the next three years. With the help of Mohsin and Iqbal's other associates, they were able to set up an Indian Mujahideen base in Pune. [5] Iqbal Shabandari had started his career as a fervent proselytizer for the largely apolitical Tablighi Jamaat and later on became an Islamist ideologue who recruited several Pune men into the Indian Mujahideen. While the two Bhatkal brothers were living in a rented apartment in Khondwa, Pune they presided over terrorist networks that later carried out multiple bombings across the country. [6]

In 2007, it is believed that he wrote the manifesto that was sent to the media before they carried out terrorist attacks in the Indian cities of Lucknow, Varanasi, and Faizabad. [3] In 2008 Iqbal had composed the three e-mails were sent to media by hacking the Wi-Fi network in Mumbai. [1] In all the cases above Iqbal is an absconding accused. The way the email was written reflects the influence of Pakistan's Army with references to Muhammad bin Qasim, Ghauri, and Ghazni. [3]

Iqbal is currently based in Karachi, Pakistan along with his brother Riyaz Bhatkal, where they are said to have fled in the aftermath of the Batla House encounter in 2008, and operated in India with the help of Yasin Bhatkal. Yasin Bhatkal (unrelated) was caught in India and has been sentenced to death. [7] [1] Yasin Bhatkal was another main leader of the Indian Mujahideen. Iqbal and Riyaz are currently working on the "Karachi project" along with the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Lashkar-e-Taiba. [3]

Iqbal Bhatkal's name was listed in the list of "50 most wanted criminals" sheltered in Pakistan. [8] He was also the first leader of the Indian Mujahideen to have his name added to the list of the most wanted by the Indian government by the Central Bureau of Investigation. [3] He is currently not believed to be actively involved in IM's operations and his brother is said to lead the group. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gupta, Shishir (8 April 2012). "Pak-based terrorists involved in cases in India". The Hindustan Times . Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Interpol warrant for Bangalore stadium attack suspect soon: police". The Hindu . 29 May 2012. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Jamal, A. (2012, 28 September). A Profile of Iqbal Bhatkal: The First Indian Mujahideen Leader Added to India’s Most Wanted List. Jamestown Foundation. Refworld.
  4. ↑ Cops give evidence on Bhatkal's role. (n.d.). The Times of India. Retrieved from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com Archived 25 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Deshmukh, C., & Keskar, P. (n.d.). Bhatkal brothers spent 8 years to set up IM base. Daily News & Analysis, India. Retrieved from http://www.dnaindia.com/ Archived 13 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine india/report_bhatkal-brothers-spent-8-years-to-set-up-im-base_1751670
  6. ↑ Swami, Praveen (17 February 2010). "In city scarred by terror, family confronts its demons". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  7. 1 2 "A short history of the Indian Mujahideen". The Indian Express. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "India releases list of '50 most wanted' sheltered in Pak". The Times of India . 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
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