Riyaz Bhatkal


Riyaz Bhatkal, also known as Shah Riyaz Ahmad Mohammed Ismail Shahbandari aka Riyaz Ismail Shahbandri, is the founder leader and a wanted terrorist of Indian Mujahideen, a terrorist group based in India. Riyaz Ismail Shahbandri is one of the Indian Mujahideen's three top commanders and is currently based in Karachi, Pakistan along with his brother Iqbal Bhatkal.

Early life

Bhatkal was born in Karnataka and studied engineering. In his earlier days, he was an activist of Students Islamic Movement of India. And later became the Indian Mujahideen’s top military commander.

Militancy

He had arranged delivery of 35 kg of explosives used in the 07/11 Mumbai blasts. He was the mastermind in planning, execution and financing of Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi serial blasts.
According to Pune Police, Mohsin Ismail Chowdhury, an accused for the German Bakery blast was recruited by Iqbal Shabandari, while Iqbal was living in Mumbai. The two brothers had recruited several Pune men into the Indian Mujahideen. While the two Bhatkal brother were living in a rented apartment in Khondwa, Pune they presided over terrorist networks that later carried out multiple bombings across the country.
In May, 2008, Bhatkal is alleged to have tapped Mansoor Peerbhoy who was then working as a computer expert at Yahoo, to produce a manifesto for the media to explain his motives for the imminent bombings in Surat and Ahmedabad. On Riyaz's instructions three e-mails were sent to media by hacking the Wi-Fi network in Mumbai.
In all the cases above Riyaz is an absconding accused. Riyaz is currently based in Delhi, India along with his brother Iqbal and operate in India with the help of Yasin Bhatkal.
Bhatkal's name was listed in the list of 50 most wanted criminals sheltered in Pakistan. An Investigation by NIA reveals that Riyaz was frustrated with Pakistan's ISI officials due to their bad treatment.
In 2013, it was revealed that in response to a request for a nuclear weapon, Bhatkal had responded that "Anything can be arranged in Pakistan".