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POST MUMBAI-MASSACRE SCENARIO: EFFORTS ON TO PIN “OTHERS”
Kasab told the police that they had “several targets” in Mumbai including the famous Leelawati Hospital. Naturally, the fear of the Jehadis further fulfilling their dangerous “targets” just cannot be ruled out. This 21-year-old Muslim terrorist, hailing from Pakistan’s Faridkot, also divulged that those who had come with him had divided themselves into two groups and each group was allotted different work. His confession has prompted the Mumbai Police to launch intensive efforts to pin the “others” to prevent them from making any attempt to spread terror in the metropolis. Kasab has told police that they were sent with a specific mission of targeting Israelis to avenge atrocities on Palestinians.
CHRONOLOGY OF ATTACKS IN MUMBAI |
The nerve centre of India’s trade and commerce, the metropolis of Mumbai witnessed repeated splashes of blood due to attacks by Pakistan-backed Islamic terrorists to cripple the country’s economy. At least seven major attempts were made by the Muslim militants in Mumbai to create disturbance aimed at marring the transaction of trade and commerce since 1993. This is a part of Pakistan’s plot to carry out “economic terrorism” besides Islamabad’s regular subversive activities like infiltration of militants in Kashmir, pushing drugs and pampering different militant outfits. The chronology of Islamic raids in Mumbai is given below: i. On March 12, 1993, serial blasts took place in Mumbai, including in the Bombay Stock Exchange Building killing at least 317 persons. The Muslim militants had also made attempts to attack Hotel Sea Rock, Hotel Centaur, Santa Cruz, Plaza Cinema, Shiv Sena Bhawan, Zaveri Bazaar, the area opposite Century Bazaar, Passport Office, Air India Building and Sahar Airport. ii. On 6 December 2002, a bomb placed under a seat of an empty bus exploded near Ghatkopar Railway Station killing two people and injuring around 28. iii. On 27 January 2003, a bomb placed on a bicycle exploded near Vile Parle killing one and injuring 25. iv. On 13 March 2003, an explosion took place at a train compartment near Mulund killing 10 and injuring 70. v. On 28 July 2003, another explosion took place in a bus at Ghatkopar killing 4 and injuring 32. vi. On 25 August 2003, two serial blasts took place near the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar near Kalbadevi killing 44 and injuring 150. vii. A series of seven bomb blasts that took place over a period of 11 minutes in the railway stations of Matunga Road, Mahim, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali killing 209 people and injuring 700. viii. Attacks in 10 different places on November 26, 2008 |
What disturbs the Mumbai Police is the possibility of “some” local people who sympathise with the cause of Islamic Jehad and Pakistan might have provided logistics support to them. As Kasab had divulged the names and addresses of at least five people from Mumbai, the involvement of “locals” in terror operation stands substantiated. Even as major railway stations in Mumbai have virtually been sealed, all places of prime importance have been put under high-security alert. Efforts are also on to forestall the sneaking out of the remaining terrorists who might have taken shelter with the “local people.” In fact, Kasab had divulged that his fellow militants were told in Pakistan that they would “come back alive” after carrying out the operation.
Meanwhile, it has come to surface that the militants had used heavy doses of drugs during their operation to sustain stress and strain. Blood tests on the terrorists indicate that they consumed cocaine and LSD during the attacks, to sustain their energy and stay awake for 50 hours. Police say that they found syringes in the scenes of the attacks. There were also indications that they had been consuming steroids. The medical tests conducted on the bodies of dead Muslim terrorists found that they took LSD, cocaine or any other psychotropic drugs to maintain their cool or keep their nerve strong in the face of the gory massacre.
MYSTERY SHROUDS SIM CARDS USED BY TERRORISTS
The attackers who raided 10 different places on November 26, 2008, including Taj Hotel and Trident Hotel, used SIM cards procured from both Indian cities and abroad. The SIM cards may have been procured in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Middle Eastern countries and Europe.
According to Mumbai’s police commissioner Hasan Gafoor, the attackers had used highly sophisticated satellite phones that are very simple to operate, yet very effective. Suspicions of local collusion that made such gadgets and cell phones available is almost sure. The terrorists used an array of gadgets from Blackberries to GPS navigators.
The terrorists used at least three SIM cards purchased on the Indian side of the border with Bangladesh. There are also reports of one SIM card being purchased in New Jersey, USA.
According to the Mumbai Police, the attackers took drugs to keep awake and fight against stress and strain sustained during the 56 hour long gun battle. The taking of drugs helped them to constantly fight without getting any sleep or rest. Cocaine is a ‘stimulant’ drug that improves endurance and increases vigor with short term use.
The evidence of taking heavy doses of psychotropic drugs becomes clear as one of Islamic militants was hit by bullets in his thigh at Taj Hotel that left him bleeding profusely. In spite of this, he fought for six more hours before being killed by the NGS commandos. Had he not taken drugs, he could not have been able to fight for so long in a seriously injured condition.
Even as Pakistan is denying that the militants are its citizen, Kasab has sought the help of the Pakistan High Commission for a lawyer as no lawyer in India is willing to fight his case. This is the second time that Kasab has asked Pakistan for legal aid. In a letter to the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Kasab claimed that he and the other terrorists who had been killed were Pakistani. He urged Pakistani officials to claim the body of his fellow terrorist Ismail Khan and give it an Islamic burial. Meanwhile, the nine killed militants may find watery graves as no Muslim burial ground in Mumbai is ready to provide them land for their burial. Amlan Home Chowdhury