Bhatkal’s Anjuna exploits haunt CM
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder and the terrorist whose name figures at the top of India’s most wanted terrorists list, Yasin Bhatkal’s visits to Goa were reported by media in 2012 but Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, quoting local intelligence inputs had told the State Legislative Assembly in August that “it was a case of mistaken identity”.
As the entire State is reading reports about Bhatkal’s presence at Anjuna in 2012-13 and his reported ‘bomb-factory’ set up in a rented house, Parrikar’s statements that “media is reporting based on mistaken identity” has come to haunt him.
“One person named Mohammad Jawar, which is Bhatkal’s other name, was frequenting Vasco to get donation for a mosque. He was mistaken for Yasin Bhatkal,” Parrikar had told the Assembly on August 8, 2012, incidentally, three months before Bhatkal was reported to have been staying in Anjuna.
Meanwhile, the revelations that Bhatkal had been the brain behind recruiting several youth from Goa to carry out terror attacks across the country, has once again raised questions about some 10 to 15 youth missing from Vasco for last two years.
Activist Tara Kerkar has blamed the local police for ignoring ‘missing persons’ complaints’ filed by the victims’ families.
“Many families have complained that police did not entertain their complaint saying their children would be back in a few days. But the youth haven’t returned till date,” she alleged. According to her, majority of the youth are in the age group of 20 to 25 years.
The same issue was raised on the floor of the House by Nuvem MLA Francisco Mickky Pacheco who had claimed that some youth from Vasco had gone missing and were reportedly recruited in the terror network by Bhatkal. Pacheco had highlighted this issue by moving a calling attention motion.
“The State Home ministry will probe the case of missing youth from Vasco town who were alleged to have been recruited for terrorist activity,” Parrikar had told the Assembly. Pacheco had pointed out that few youth, who had reportedly left with Bhatkal, were missing.
Parrikar had said that the news (appearing in the local newspaper) is not authenticated. It is out of confusion between similarity in names.
Bhatkal, whose stay in Goa for nearly a year exposed the intelligence failure of local police, was arrested on the Indo-Nepal border near Bihar last month.
Last Saturday, a team of NIA accompanied by Border Security Force took Bhatkal to places such as Anjuna beach, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco, where he had reportedly visited during the last decade.
A Chimbel youth, reportedly a local contact of Bhatkal was picked up by NIA last Saturday.
Bhatkal had lived in a rented house at Anjuna village with two other men from where NIA has recovered material used for bomb making. A used Yamaha bike, whose ownership is not known to any authorities, was also attached.
While his father is said to have donated a huge amount to a religious institution at Vasco, Bhatkal has also reportedly purchased some properties here. A team of NIA which was stationed here has already left for New Delhi with the confiscated articles.
