Damascus will free me terror suspect tells wife over phone from prison
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Bhatkal jailed for role in 2011 Mumbai blasts.
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Hyderabad — Intelligence agencies went into a tizzy on Saturday following revelation that Yasin Bhatkal founder of the banned terror group Indian Mujahideen who is lodged in Cherlapally Jail in Hyderabad had told his wife during a recent telephonic conversation that “he would be out soon with the help of Damascus”.
The call according to reports quoting sources was intercepted a month ago. What has made the intelligence agencies sit up is the fact that Bhatkal a key conspirator in the Mumbai blasts case spoke of help from Damascus indicating the involvement of Daesh in the alleged escape plan.
Telangana Director-General of Prisons V K Singh ruled out the possibility of Bhatkal calling his wife from a mobile phone which could have been smuggled into the prison. The call made by him was an authorised one from an official telephone in the jail.
“Authorised calls are always recorded and Bhatkal himself is aware of this. Besides his cell in Cherlapally Jail is guarded round the clock” the prison official said adding that if Bhatkal had indeed spoken about his escape from prison with the help of Damascus it was only to mislead the police.
The 32-year-old Bhatkal was arrested from Bihar in 2013 by the National Investigation Agency. He was allegedly the key conspirator in three powerful blasts which ripped through crowded areas in Mumbai — Zaveri Bazar Opera House and Kabutar Khana — on July 13 2011 killing at least 21 people and injuring 141 others.
The DGP clarified that Yasin had “permission from court” to talk to his wife Zahida and other family members twice a week and that the names and phone numbers of his relatives are registered. All phone conversations are recorded by jail authorities and made available to investigating agencies.
This is the second time that Bhatkal was found talking about his escape plan. Earlier when he was lodged in a Delhi jail he was overheard saying that he would stage a hijack to escape. The intelligence bureau is still verifying his call.
Meanwhile security has been tightened in and around the prison following the development.
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