IM may kidnap someone to get Bhatkal's release, court told

Associates of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal are planning to commit a "sensational kidnapping" in the national capital to secure the terrorist's release, Delhi Police told a court on Monday.

The police submission came while seeking more time from the court for completing the investigation against Bhatkal for allegedly setting up an illegal arms factory.

Police told Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash that they need more time to probe the 2011 illegal arms factory case and requested 15 more days for completing the probe.

The court allowed the police plea and granted them more time for the investigation.

Police said they have received a specific input that "some unidentified associates of Bhatkal are planning to commit a sensational kidnapping in Delhi to secure the release of this top terrorist".

Police teams are camping in various part of the country to identify and apprehend the conspirators and a breakthrough was expected soon, the court was told.

Police are also trying to track down and arrest absconding Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Tehsin Bhatkal, Indian Mujahideen commanders based in Pakistan.

The arrest of the three will help police complete the missing links in the conspiracy.

Bhatkal was arrested along with his aide Asadulla Akhtar in the case October 28, 2013.

The stipulated 90-day period for police investigation has ended, and hence, police requested the court to grant them more time.

In November 2011, a special cell busted an illegal arms factory in Meer Vihar area of Nangloi on the outskirts of the capital and arrested several alleged Indian Mujahideen suspects.

In November 2011, a case was registered against Bhatkal and later a non-bailable warrant was issued against him for setting up the factory.

Bhatkal and Akhtar were arrested from the India-Nepal border in August 2013. He was in the Delhi Police list of 15 most-wanted terrorists involved in bombings across the country.

He is a key suspect in the 2008 serial bombings in Delhi's Connaught Place, Gaffar Market and Greater Kailash areas, which claimed 26 lives and injured 133 people.