2013 Hyderabad blasts: Yasin Bhatkal, 4 others convicted

Hyderabad: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday convicted Yasin Bhatkal and four other terrorists of the Indian Mujahideen for their involvement in the bomb blasts in Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad in 2013. The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on December 19.

This is the first time that a verdict has been handed down against an Indian Mujahideen member.

Investigations and trials are proceeding in about half a dozen other cases involving Yasin Bhatkal.

At least 17 people were killed and more than 130 others injured in the twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar on February 21, 2013. The court had examined over 157 witnesses in the case.

During the probe, Yasin Bhatkal was picked up by the NIA on the Indo-Nepal border along with Asadullah on August 29, 2013. Tehseen and Zia were arrested six months later.

The NIA claimed that Asadullah, Zia and Tehseen conducted a recce of the city and decided to target Dilsukhnagar because it was a predominantly Hindu area.

The NIA said the accused carried out the blasts under instruction from their top boss Riyaz Bhatkal, who is in Pakistan.