Hyderabad Dilsukhnagar blast: Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, four others convicted

A Hyderabad special court on 13 December convicted Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and four others in the 2013 Hyderabad twin blasts. However, the case will be pronounced on 19 December.

The Dilsukhnagar twin blast was probed by National Investigation Agency in Hyderabad.

The court had framed charges against Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahaseen Akhtar alias Monu and Aijaz Sheikh, who are at present lodged in the Cherlapally Prison.

However, Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal - the prime accused - is still absconding.

18 people were killed and 131 were injured in the twin blasts which occurred near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar. These two areas are known to be a crowded shopping area in the city on 21 February, 2013.

The accused were tried under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and other relevant acts including IPC.

According to a report in PTI, Bhatkal hails from Bhatkal village of Udupi district in North Karnataka and is wanted for a string of terror attacks in Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad.