United we stand
Wed, December 03 2008
The nabbed terrorist, identified as Ajmal Amir Kasab, has made several startling revelations during the preliminary interrogation, according to police sources.
The needle of suspicion is pointing in the direction of Lashkar-e-Taiba with indications that the terrorists were trained for a year before the attack.
According to the sources, Ajmal, 21, is from Faridkot, Pakistan, and was involved in the indiscriminate firings carried out at at least three locations – Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Cama & Albless Hospital and Metro Cinema areas – all located within a one-kilometre radius.
An unspecified quantity of arms and ammunition has been recovered from Ajmal.
Commending the sustained efforts of the combined security forces, the deputy chief minister said the terrorists’ intention to unleash terror of an unimaginable magnitude in Mumbai “was foiled”.
The authorities have been shaken by the recovery of two live bombs – each weighing 8 kg – which were intended to blow up the iconic Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel.
Patil’s statements came after a preliminary examination of several of the terror-hit spots including the Taj, the Trident-Oberoi, Nariman House, CST, Cama & Albless Hospital and the blast in a cab at Vile Parle.
So far, the authorities have confirmed the involvement of 11 terrorists in the 13 terror attacks.
The combined security forces eliminated 10 terrorists in different encounters, following the attacks that held Mumbai to ransom for 60 hours.
Ajmal’s associate, who was killed by the police near Girgaum Chowpatty early Thursday morning, has been identified as Abu Ismail, 25.
He and Ajmal are believed to be responsible for the attacks on the police officials and hijacking a police van.
At least 183 people, including 22 foreign nationals, were killed, and 239 injured in the worst terror attack in Mumbai.
Even the poor were not spared in the massacre.
One of the dead was Thakur Buddhabhai Waghela, a sweeper employed at the G.T. hospital who was gunned down Wednesday night while having dinner at his home.
“My brother was at home when the terrorists went on a rampage, killing him on the spot,” said younger brother Bharat Waghela.
They lived in a house provided by hospital authorities near the G.T. and Cama hospitals.
“We heard there was firing at the C.S.T. station but we never thought the killers would come this way,” said Bharat.
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