Journalism of Courage
An opportunity to nab Yasin Bhatkal in Mumbais Byculla was squandered in January 2012 due to a lack of communication and one-upmanship between the Delhi police and the Maharashtra ATS. This had led to a war of words that needed the Home Ministry to intervene.
In November 2011,the Delhi police Special Cell received information that Bhatkal and two wanted accused in the July 13,2011,Mumbai serial blasts case Wakas alias Wakar Ibrahim Sad alias Waqas Ibrahim Shaikh and Tabrez alias Danish alias Aadil had stayed in a rented room on the third floor of Habib Mansion in Byculla.
Putting a spanner in the works,however,the Maharashtra ATS arrested Naquee on January 7,2012,in a fake SIM card racket,and even summoned landlady for questioning. This,the Special Cell complained,botched the operation as Yasin was alerted and chose not to return.
The ATS,however,claims Yasin had never stayed at the Habib Mansion room. According to the ATS,Yasin and his wife Zahida reached Mumbai on July 12,2011 the day before the blasts and left after the bombs were planted the following day. Wanted accused Waqas and Tabrez had stayed in the room,the ATS said.
In a supplementary chargesheet filed in the 13/7 blasts case in August last year,the ATS declared that Naquee Ahmed and Nadeem Akhtar along with wanted accused had stayed in the rental room No. 53 at Habib Mansion,third floor,Byculla,and that the bombs were assembled there.
The room in Habib Mansion was also minutely examined and DNA samples were sent for examination to the Forensic Science Laboratory,Kalina,Mumbai.
Following his arrest,Naquees family alleged that he was a police informer for the Delhi police and had been wrongly shown as an accused by their Maharashtra counterparts. According to the Maharashtra ATS,however,Naquee was involved in a racket of procuring fake SIM cards that were used by IM members in Bihar and Delhi. The ATS also alleged that Naquee assisted Yasin in scouting for a hideout and also transporting money. Naquee was subsequently booked for his alleged role in the 13/7 serial blasts case.
