Indian Mujahideen co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal living life king-size in Karachi with ISI patronage

A day after Yasin Bhatkal and four others were convicted for their role in twin blasts in Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar locality in 2013, it has now emerged that terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder, who is believed to be prime accused and mastermind, is holed up in Karachi under the patronage of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Hyderabad: A day after Yasin Bhatkal and four others were convicted for their role in twin blasts in Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar locality in 2013, it has now emerged that terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal is holed up in Karachi under the patronage of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

A ToI report claimed on Wednesday that IM top operative Riyaz Bhatkal, who is believed to be a prime accused and mastermind in Hyderabad blasts case, has made a huge amount of money courtesy the benevolence of ISI.

The NIA claimed in its chargesheet filed in the Dilsukhnagar blast case that "several IM members have received financial and material assistance from ISI, which has been providing shelter to Riyaz and his brother Iqbal Bhatkal in Karachi." 

NIA officials claim that Riyaz is currently living a lavish life at a house in Karachi.

Riyaz's decision to join hands with the ISI has led to the split in IM, the NIA believes. 

His decision was opposed by former IM members such as Shafi Armar who is reportedly in Syria luring Indians to join the ranks of the Islamic State (IS) - and others, who wanted to further the cause of either al Qaida or the IS.

Since Riyaz reportedly posses a passport issued by Pakistan, it is getting difficult for the NIA officials to track his movements and nab him.

To execute the blasts, Riyaz reportedly sent Rs 1.25 lakh through hawala and a legitimate money transfer channel. 

After the blasts, he wired nearly Rs 70,000 to his associates from the United Arab Emirates. 

It is said that Riyaz was constantly in touch with Yasin Bhatkal, who kept changing his location, before executing the Dilsukhnagar terror strike from Pakistan.

Riyaz, who wanted to avenge alleged anti-Muslim activities in Hyderabad, directed the trio, the planters Asadullah Akhtar, alias Haddi, Mohd Tahseen Akhtar, alias Hasan and Zia-ur-Rahman, alias Waqas, to join Yasin and execute the twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar and other places across the country. 

A day before the blast, Riyaz told Yasin that a blast would be triggered and asked him to pray for its success. The Dilsukhnagar blasts were financed by Riyaz through Western Union money transfer and hawala channels, the sources said.