Omar1984
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'Indian hand' in 26/11 causes furore
13 Feb 2009,
MUMBAI: On a day when Pakistan admitted the role of its nationals in the 26/11 terror attacks, the Mumbai police which is investigating the case created major confusion by initially saying that 16 persons, including a few Indians, had provided logistics support only to retract it a few minutes later.
Commissioner of police Hasan Gafoor, while speaking to the media on Thursday evening, said, "Sixteen persons are wanted in the terror attack which includes the Pakistan-based LeT handlers and Indians." Gafoor further said that most of the Indians wanted were from north India. "We have alerted the local police there. They have provided assistance in collecting information, carrying out a recce, and transfer of funds from abroad," he said. Gafoor refused to elaborate saying investigations were continuing.
Gafoor said most of the Indian suspects were from north India who had gone to Pakistan to obtain training. They disappeared after 26/11. "The Mumbai police is on the lookout for them," he said. Gafoor said the list containing the names of wanted Pakistani nationals had been forwarded to Pakistani authorities.
In addition to these 16 persons, Gafoor said two Indians — Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who helped in carrying out a survey of the targets attacked — were also involved in the planning.
Soon after Gafoor announced this in public, TOI contacted joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria seeking details of the wanted persons. He said only two Indians were involved in the attack — Ansari and Sabauddin. Maria said he had spoken to Gafoor, who had never mentioned that 16 persons were wanted for the terror attack.
Gafoor later retracted his statement and said, "What I said was that 16 people were involved in the attack, of which 14 were Pakistani nationals. Nine terrorists were shot dead and Ajmal Kasab is with us. Four are handlers based in Pakistan. Two Indians are already in our custody."
Meanwhile, the Mumbai police on Thursday claimed that the 26/11 terror attack could not have been possible without the tacit support of the Pakistani army. A senior police officer, while reacting to Pakistan's claims that non-state actors were behind the attack, told TOI that Lashkar-e-Taiba was an offshoot of ISI, which is a Pakistan state agency. "The ISI is run by either retired or serving Pakistani army personnel. Does this happen without the knowledge of the government," the officer said.
The officer refused to comment when asked whether this fact was mentioned in any of the investigation reports. "We have information but to prove it in a court of law is difficult," he said.
He pointed out that Austria-based Arges, which manufactured the pistols and grenades used in the attack, had given a franchise to Pakistan Ordnance Factory. "In fact, during the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, we had similar information. But to prove it in court will be difficult," he said. On the origin of AK-47 rifles used in the carnage, the officer said he was awaiting the reports.
'Indian hand' in 26/11 causes furore-India-The Times of India
13 Feb 2009,
MUMBAI: On a day when Pakistan admitted the role of its nationals in the 26/11 terror attacks, the Mumbai police which is investigating the case created major confusion by initially saying that 16 persons, including a few Indians, had provided logistics support only to retract it a few minutes later.
Commissioner of police Hasan Gafoor, while speaking to the media on Thursday evening, said, "Sixteen persons are wanted in the terror attack which includes the Pakistan-based LeT handlers and Indians." Gafoor further said that most of the Indians wanted were from north India. "We have alerted the local police there. They have provided assistance in collecting information, carrying out a recce, and transfer of funds from abroad," he said. Gafoor refused to elaborate saying investigations were continuing.
Gafoor said most of the Indian suspects were from north India who had gone to Pakistan to obtain training. They disappeared after 26/11. "The Mumbai police is on the lookout for them," he said. Gafoor said the list containing the names of wanted Pakistani nationals had been forwarded to Pakistani authorities.
In addition to these 16 persons, Gafoor said two Indians — Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who helped in carrying out a survey of the targets attacked — were also involved in the planning.
Soon after Gafoor announced this in public, TOI contacted joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria seeking details of the wanted persons. He said only two Indians were involved in the attack — Ansari and Sabauddin. Maria said he had spoken to Gafoor, who had never mentioned that 16 persons were wanted for the terror attack.
Gafoor later retracted his statement and said, "What I said was that 16 people were involved in the attack, of which 14 were Pakistani nationals. Nine terrorists were shot dead and Ajmal Kasab is with us. Four are handlers based in Pakistan. Two Indians are already in our custody."
Meanwhile, the Mumbai police on Thursday claimed that the 26/11 terror attack could not have been possible without the tacit support of the Pakistani army. A senior police officer, while reacting to Pakistan's claims that non-state actors were behind the attack, told TOI that Lashkar-e-Taiba was an offshoot of ISI, which is a Pakistan state agency. "The ISI is run by either retired or serving Pakistani army personnel. Does this happen without the knowledge of the government," the officer said.
The officer refused to comment when asked whether this fact was mentioned in any of the investigation reports. "We have information but to prove it in a court of law is difficult," he said.
He pointed out that Austria-based Arges, which manufactured the pistols and grenades used in the attack, had given a franchise to Pakistan Ordnance Factory. "In fact, during the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, we had similar information. But to prove it in court will be difficult," he said. On the origin of AK-47 rifles used in the carnage, the officer said he was awaiting the reports.
'Indian hand' in 26/11 causes furore-India-The Times of India
, hope not.
