Yasin Bhatkal feels proud for carrying out Mumbai blasts: Police

July 5, 2014

Mumbai, Jul 5: According to the Mumbai police, terror suspect and alleged Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal is "proud of himself" for carrying out the 2011 blasts.

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"Whatever I have done, I feel proud of myself," Yasin said in his confessional statement, recorded by the Mumbai police, a copy of which was sent to a few news agencies.

The Maharashtra control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), under which Yasin is charged with, authorises the DCP-level officer to record the confessional statement of the accused.

When Deputy Commissioner of Police Kishore Jadhav, asked Bhatkal, as to why he wants to give confessional statement, he said, "I don't regret for the blast that I have carried out and therefore, I want to give confessional statement," police sources said.

According to police Yasin also told the investigators that he does not consider the blasts carried out by him as a crime.

Yasin's alleged aide Asadullah Akthar, also told the police, in the confessional statement, that he too does not regret the blast carried out by him, said the police sources.

In the confessional statement, both the accused stated the details of the blasts carried out by them in various places in the country, since 2005 to avenge the 2002 Godhra riots, police said.

The Anti Terrorism Squad of the Maharashtra Police on June 16 had filed a 300-page supplementary chargesheet against Indian Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akthar in connection with the 2011 triple blast case. It could be recalled here that the Anti Terrorism Squad of the Maharashtra Police had underwent a major overhaul after the martyrdom of its chief Hemant Karkare in 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Karkara had exposed the anti-national Hindutva terrorism.

Yasin and Akthar were arrested on February 5 this year by the Maharashtra ATS after a Delhi court allowed its plea seeking their custody.

According to ATS, Yasin was the key conspirator of the three powerful blasts which ripped through crowded areas in Mumbai's - Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Kabutar Khana, on July 13, 2011, killing at least 21 people and injuring 141.

Police said that Yasin played an important role in procuring explosives and making Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Earlier, five accused - Naquee Ahmed, Nadeem Shaikh, Kanwar Pathrija, Haroon Naik and Mohammed Qafeel Ansari were held in the case and are facing trial under the stringent MCOCA, Indian Penal Code and other laws.

Those wanted in the case are Riyaz Bhatkal, Waqas Ibrahim Sad, Dubai-based Muzaffar Kolah and Tehseen Akhtar Shaikh, the police said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Yasin (30), who is wanted in over 40 terror cases and carries a reward of Rs 35 lakh on his head, as well as Akhtar, from the Indo-Nepal border on the night of August 28, 2013.

According to NIA, Yasin, who hails from Bhatkal town of Karnataka, is wanted in a string of terror attacks in Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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