Shark Fin ban is of little help says experts

U Sudhakar Reddy
While hailing the Shark fin ban to curb the torture of sharks in the
marine habitat experts warned that more important is implementation of policy.  Experts
say that the ban will be of little help as the most of the finning and trading take place
offshore away from the coast. The ban on finning is aimed to prevent the exports to china
which is used for making shark fin soup.

Andhra Pradesh coastline has been witnessing severe depletion of shark population due to
indiscriminate finning.  Lakhs of sharks are killed every year to meet the demand for
shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy.
Ministry of Forest and Environment has issued a policy on shark fins and the police is
aimed to curb shark finning a practice that occurs when fisherman catches sharks, cut off
their finds and throw the live animal back into water where they die a painful death.
Mr. Rajeev Mathen Mathew expert committee member of AP Biodiversity Board says,” Sharks
are caught off shore.  Fisherman on foreign vessels on the borders of territorial waters
of the country waters have been reported to engage in shark finning.  It is very
difficult to monitor these transactions off shore when they are really traded. The policy
on paper will not help. There shall be strict vigilance and it has to be implemented,”
Humane Society International in India wildlife campaign manager C Samyuktha says “We are
overjoyed at India’s decision to adopt a fins naturally attached policy, which experts
worldwide agree is necessary to protect sharks from the cruelty of finning. Humane
Society International has been campaigning hard to see this policy enacted, and we are
delighted authorities have taken this crucial step.”
Experts who are hailing the move also said enforcement is important as India is one of
the largest exporters of shark fins in the world.
Mr. Bhanu Sridharan of Researchers for Wildlife Conservation said,” In the long term, it
is crucial for the Central Government to also develop an effective mechanism for
preventing illegal foreign fishing vessels from engaging in shark finning in Indian
waters, as this is detrimental to marine biodiversity and to the livelihoods of Indian
fishing communities.”
Mr. Gajender Sharma of World Society for Protection of Animals said: “It’s now important
that this policy is fully enforced to safeguard the welfare of sharks, and to end the
inhumane practice of finning in India. This will also provide sharks with a fair chance
of survival, which in turns helps to maintain a balanced marine ecosystem.

Interpol notice of Yasin Bhatkal

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

·   ZARAR, AHMED SIDDIBABA

WANTED BY THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES OF INDIA FOR PROSECUTION / TO SERVE A SENTENCE

IDENTITY PARTICULARS

Present family name :	ZARAR
Forename :	AHMED SIDDIBABA
Sex :	Male
Date of birth :	15/01/1983 (30 years old)
Place of birth :	VILL- BHATKAL,DISTT- UDUPI, KARNATAKA, India
Language spoken :	English, Hindi, Urdu, Kannada
Nationality :	India

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Height :	1.73 meter
Colour of eyes :	Black

CHARGES Published as provided by requesting entity

Charges :

Member of terrorist organization, commission of terrorist Act, Bomb explosion, Murder, Attempt to murder and Conspiracy

PHOTOS

SHAHABANDRI

RIYAZ AHAMED

Age today : 37 years old
Nationality : India

Was the bomb maker Yaseen who figured in Indian Mujahideen IR's in 2007 blast is Yaseen Bhatkal?

By U Sudhakar Reddy

 Was the bomb maker Yaseen who figured in the confession statements of
accused Indian Mujahideen operatives arrested in Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park blast case
is none other than Yaseen Bhatkal alias Zarar Ahmed Siddibapa? The questions now
bothering the state intelligence agencies are that how did he missed the accused list
while filing the chargesheet. The argument gained significance in the wake of Yaseen
Bhatkal claiming during interrogation by NIA that he has supplied explosives and bombs in
almost all blast that took place after 2007 in the country.

Mohammed Akbar Ismail Choudary  of Pune one of the accused says , “I was Yaseen who
trained us in Mangalore terror camp. Yaseen had an airgun and we did firing practice.
Yaseen used to tell us about explosives. ..Yaseen brought explosive material in boxes and
bags. It was Yaseen who opened the boxes and made boat shaped wooden frames. Yasheen had
shown us how to use adhesive in plastic bags to spread ball bearings…,”
Yaseen’s name also figured in the Interrogation Reports of Anique alias Khaled named as
accused number 1 in Gokul Chat blast case.  Only seven names figures in the chargesheet
of Lumbini Park blast including two Bhatkal brothers Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal.
A senior police official said ,”The terror operatives use different alias names. The
accused told that it was Yaseen alias Waseem. So we can’t confirm which Yaseen was he.
Unless w take Yaseen Bhatkal into custody we will not know whether he is the same man who
figured in the interrogation reports. When Lumbini Blast took place Yasin Bhatkal name
was not that popular as most of the operatives then arrested were in touch with other
Bhatkal brother,”

US travel claims of Bhatkal being verified

 National Investigation Agency sleuths are verifying the claims of
Yasin Bhatkal who revealed that he travelled to United States in 2007 on an Indian
passport.
As Interpol red corner notice was issued against Yasin Bhatkal alias Zarar Ahmed
Siddibaba in 2011 he couldn’t be caught at the airports. Bhatkal also travelled to Dubai
in 2004. Bhatkal’s father Yaqub Siddibapa himself in his recent note said that his son
disappeared from Dubai. Passport issued in Bangalore in the name of Ahmed Siddibapa is
being verified.
Sources said ,”He went to Karachi in 2006 and returned to Dubai. From Dubai he went to
Los Alamos in New Mexico in US on January 8 in 2007 and did not return to Dubai. Yaseen
name came out for the first time in the interrogation reports in 2008 and red corner
notice was issued in 2011. That’s why his international travel was not tracked,”
During investigation it was also revealed that Yasin Bhatkal used to get money through
hawala routes from Pakistan via Nepal.
“He is handled by Pakistan based operatives and was not only in touch with his brothers
Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal who are on the run but also with the ISI. Earlier interrogation
reports also revealed that Iqbal Bhatkal alias Mohammed Bhai was the hawala operator
initially. Indian Mujahideen is nothing but an offshoot of Lashakar E Toiba which is
linked to ISI,” said an official.
Sources said Yasin made Pokhara in Nepal as his shelter to lie low . He initially worked
as tour guide and later started practicing Unani medicine. After Dilshuknagar blasts he
went to Nepal and was shuttling.

Bhatkal brothers of IM used Satphones

Investigation agencies interrogating terror suspect Yasin Bhatkal
have confirmed that the terror suspects of Indian Muhahideen are using satellite phones.
Investigations revealed that Bhatkal brothers used satellite phone to contact handlers in
Karachi while in Nepal and operatives in the country.  Yasin Bhatkal interrogation
revealed several terror modules modes operandi of communication.
Yasin Bhatkal revealed that his cousin Iqbal Bhatkal alias Mohammed bhai alias Bada Bhai
had visited Nepal in 2013 first quarter and was using satellite phone to talk to his
handlers based in Karachi in Pakistan sources said.
There is a ban on Satellite phone services in the country but terror suspects, organized
mafia gangsters and Maoists were using the satphones.
“Terror suspects are in touch with their handlers of Lashkar e Toiba through satellite
phones. It is difficult to track them and to intercept. Even during Mumbai attacks a
satphone used by 10 terrorists was seized from the fishing trawler M V Kuber. While cell
phone used cell towers on the earth the satellite phone used satellite orbiting in the
sky,” said an official.
The investigators of NIA and state police are also trying to elicit information on how
Yasin Bhatkal and Riyaz Bhatkal raised funds apart from the hawala transfers from
Pakistan via Nepal to India.
Mansoor Peerbhoy a techies arrested in IM module revealed that Iqbal Bhatkal was

basically the hawala operated and was seriously involved in transfer of money.

Interstate Operations Teams of Andhra Pradesh SIB to hunt down the surviving top cadres of CPI Maoists

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

State Special Intelligence Branch has set up two Interstate
Operations teams to hunt down the top cadres of Maoists. The interstate operations are
headed by an Additional SP rank official. One of the ISO teams will be focusing on
Dandakaranya and the other in the rest of the country.

With intensified operations by AP police the Maoist movement is restricted only to
Central region of the country. Sources said that the operations are aimed at neutralizing
the surviving 15 central committee members of CPI Maoists. Out of 45 CC members the
number have now come down to 15 as others were either killed in exchange of fire or
arrested. There was no new expansion of central committee in the recent times.
Maoist cadres  are confined only to Central Region. Dankaranya Special Zonal Committee
that has strong hold in three districts of Chattisgarh and runs Janathan Sarkar has
around 9514 underground cadres including the armed militia. DKSZC is the only biggest
unit now existing in the country and is lead by Ravula Srinivas alias Ramanna.
Recruitments have stopped after Salwa Judum has been closed. “The recruitment has dropped
drastically. Salwa Judum’s alleged atrocities were the driving force earlier and now
there is no motive for the locals,”
Sources said due to the simmering division between local and non local Maoist cadres in
Dandakaranya the locals were made commanders of two battalions including the latest
second battalion formed in DK.
In Bihar Jharkand Special Zonal Committee agencies found that around 5335 underground
cadres for the left wing extremist group and it has 62 squads. Followed by it is Andhra
Oissa Border, Maharasthra and Orissa committees.
North Telangana committee has only 10 squads with 82 armed Maoists and 17 members of
special guerrilla squad and around 10 armed militia taking the underground cadres to 109.
A source said ,”The Bihari cadres want someone from erstwhile Maoist Communist Centre (it
was merged with Peoples war to form CPI Maoist) to be head of Central Committee after
Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganapathi. Actually Katakam Sudharshan alias Anand was the most
capable of the top cadres and Nambala Keshav Rao is heading central military commission,”
 Out of 15 central committee members except two to three all are from Andhra Pradesh.

IM chief Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah arrested in Hyderabad Bodh Gaya conspiracy case by NIA

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

National Investigation Agency Delhi unit on

Thursday have shown Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhatar’s arrest

officially in IM terror conspiracy to carry out attacks in Hyderabad

and Bodh Gaya. The case is regarding conducting recce on the

instructions of Yasin Bhatkal in July 2012, by Maqbool aided by other

IM terror suspect Imran Khan at Dilkushnagar, Begum Bazaar and Abids

in Hyderabad. This conspiracy case is different from Dilshuknagar

blasts case. Sources said they will be later brought to city in

Dilshuknagar bomb blasts case on Prisoner Transit warrant later.

NIA in a statement said ,”reliable source information was received by

the NIA that two terrorists of Indian Mujahideen Yasin Bhatkal,

Asadullah were going to meet in East Champaran area (near Raxaul),

Bihar sometime on 28th and29th August 2013, to plan and execute some

terrorist acts.This reliable source input was shared with the Bihar

Police; and in a joint operation of NIA with Bihar Police, the

terrorists of Indian Mujahideen were arrested and produced before the

Court of Ld. CJM Motihari,”

NIA said it is noteworthy to mention that, the two IM terrorists were

wanted by NIA and the local police of several States in a number of

terror cases. NIA has issued NBWs against the duo on July 18 in 2013

in IM terror conspiracy case and a reward of Rs 10 lakh is on their

heads.

Five Indian Mujahideen operatives including Obaid Ur Rehman of

Hyderabad and Syed Maqbool of Nanded were already in July 2013 by NIA

connection with conspiracy case.

Chargesheet then named Mohammed Danish Ansari of Darbhanga in Bihar,

Mohammed Aftab Alam of Purnea in Bihar and Imran Khan alias Zakaria of

Nanded in Maharasthra.

These chargesheets are not(NOT) regarding the terror explosion cases

of Dilshuknagar twin blasts in February 21 this year that claimed 16

lives after IEDs are placed near Konark and Venkatdri theatres and

Bodh Gaya strikes but for the conspiracies to carry out these attacks.

The plot was revealed in 2012 much ahead of the blasts. The case was

then booked by Delhi police and accused were arrested with the help of

AP police.

NIA that IM operatives planned a suicide bomb attack in Bodh Gaya in

Bihar to avenge attacks on Muslims in Myanmar, and also imparted

training to those responsible for a couple of low-intensity bomb

blasts in Pune in 2012. It is alleged that in July 2012, Maqbool aided

other IM terror suspect Imran Khan did a recce of Dilkushnagar, Begum

Bazaar and Abids in Hyderabad. He was said to be acting on the

instructions of the most wanted terror suspect, Riyaz Bhatkal. Syed

Maqbool alias Zuber, a former convict from AP was arrested by Delhi

police in November 2012 with the help of Counter Intelligence sleuths

in Shaheen Nagar in the city. NIA alleged Maqbool is a bomb maker and

taught other IM suspects how to make improvised explosive devices.

The latest Chargesheet was filed under 121 A (waging or attempting to

wage war against nation) and 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate

waging war) of IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

The FIR was registered in 2012 September against 12 IM operatives

including Yasin Bhatkal the man w o is now suspected to have planted

bombs in Dilshuknagar. His brothers Riyaz Bhatkal and Yasin Bhatkal

and IM founder Amir Reza Khan, Mohammed Sajid alias Bada Sajid and

others.

TEN KEY SUSPECTS OF IM STILL ON RUN

The arrest of Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar is not the
end of the road for Indian Mujahideen. Ten of top Indian Mujahideen terror suspects
including two of the Iqbal brothers are still absconding.
All these potential terror suspects are involved in several bombings in the city and
other States.
Mohammed Tehseen Akhtar of Bihar, Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal; Bhatkal of Karnataka, , Mohammed
Ismail Choudary of Hyderabad, Amir Reza Khan of West Bengal, Dr Shahnawaz Alam of
Azamghar, Ariz Khan, Bada Sajid, Mohammed Khalid, Mirza Shadaab of Azamgarh in Uttar
Pradesh are still on run and wanted by NIA and several state police.

It is suspected that there are several other terror sleeper cells.

DILSHUKNAGAR BOMBERS TO REVEAL LOCAL SLEEPER CELLS

: The arrest of two key suspects in Dilshuknagarbombing Yasin Bhatkal alias Ahmed Siddibappa chief  of Indian
Mujahideen and his close aide Asadullah Akhtar alias Tabrez not only
solved the case but State police are confident that their
interrogation will throw more light on local sleeper cells of IM and
as well as Gokul and Lumbini bomb blasts of 2008 in which Yasin’s
brothers Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal were involved.
Yasin and  Asadullah were on the list of Dilshuknagar bombers prepared
by both State police and National Investigation agency after they got
their visuals from CC TV. Since February 2013 after the blasts NIA and
State police units launched hunt for them naming them as key suspects.
NIA Hyderabad teams lead by DIG Ravi Shankar Ayyanar which are probing
Dilshuknagar twin blasts and another team of Counter Intelligence
sleuths left to Delhi to grill the duo. They are being brought to
Delhi from Bihar.

The focus of interrogation will be that how they planned and executed
the Dilshuknagar blasts and who are the others involved both in the
country and across the border. Police also prepared questions
regarding local modules that may have helped them in procuring
bicycles and giving shelter.
“From Delhi we are trying to bring them to city if possible after
Saturday as Dilshuknagar bomb blasts case is most recent one in which
they are confirmed to have been involved. As several police units of
other States and national agencies want to question him they have to
be given slots. Depending on this we may bring him to the city,” said
a senior police official of Intelligence department.
Police said Yasin Bhatkal name didn't figure in 2011 twin blasts of
Lumbini and Gokul Chat however his brothers Riyaz and Iqbal are wanted
by the State police in the case and duo are believed to be hiding in
Pakistan.
“Yasin was in touch with his brothers regularly on mails. His
interrogation will also throw more light on 2008 blasts,” said an
official.
In 2009 after the busting of first IM module Yasin’s brothers Riyaz
and Iqbal fled to Pakistan. And his brother Yasin took up as the chief
of IM and  involved in the blasts. Asadullah Akhtar is a native of
Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.