Practise Jihad through technology: IM founder

Riyaz Bhatkal, the founder of the Indian Mujahideen, allegedly told members of the terror outfit that Jihad should be practised not just through weapons but also through technology.

"Both Riyaz and his brother Iqbal, co-founder of the IM, said that Jihad is the right and duty of every Muslim and that in the 21st century, Jihad should be practised through technology," Mubin Shaikh, an arrested IM member, has confessed before a magistrate.

Mubin, a computer science graduate, said Riyaz and Iqbal had cited the example of Al Qaeda's attack on the twin towers in America.

"The manner in which Al Qaeda used technology to attack America, IM should also use the same to avenge the atrocities meted against Muslims across the country," the confession stated.

According to the confession statement, in November 2007, Mubin was asked by Bhatkal brothers to enhance his expertise in computer technology and was sent to undergo training in wireless hacking.

"I was also asked to learn how to transfer funds via internet. On the instruction of the Bhatkal brothers, I later opened accounts in several banks like Canara bank, State Bank of India, Vijaya bank and Punjab National bank," Mubin said, adding that he was then asked to gather information about certain credit card holders.