26/11 terrorists were told to look for ministers as hostages

MUMBAI: The 26/11 terrorists were instructed on mobile phones by their Pakistani handlers to look for ministers and VIPs at the Hotel Taj here and take them as hostages before setting rooms on fire.

This was revealed today in the court through CDs of four telephonic conversations between terrorists and their Pakistan handlers.

The talks had been recorded by police while intercepting the conversation between the terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam informed the court.

A terrorist was told by the person on the other line of conversation to inform the families of the hostages at Hotel Taj that they should request the army to stop the operation if they wanted to see their loved ones alive.

In another conversation, a terrorist was asked why they had not sunk Kuber boat (through which they came to Mumbai from Pakistan). The terrorist replied that they had no time and also another vessel approached them and they thought it was Navy who was chasing them.

The terrorists were also told that fire in rooms above them prevented the armed forces from reaching there by helicopter and they should ensure that the fire spreads as it would benefit them.

It is the case of police that the Pakistan handlers were watching television and instructing the terrorists who had laid siege at Hotel Taj and Oberoi for more than two days.

During the talks the names of three terrorists -- Abu Ali, Abu Umar and Abdul Rehman Bada -- had figured. It also appeared that another terrorist named Abu Shoeb was with them. On the other line of conversation were Washibhai and Kafabhai.

Before the CDs were played, Parambir Singh, then Additional Commissioner of police, Anti-terrorism Squad, told the court that he had granted sanction to intercept telephonic talks the terrorists had with their Pakistani handlers during terror attacks in Mumbai.

Singh said a subordinate officer in charge of service had informed them that terrorists were using four mobile phones and police wanted to intercept the calls to find out with whom they were talking and what.

Accordingly, Singh who is the competent authority under Indian Telgraph Act to accord such sanction, gave permission to intercept telephonic conversation of terrorists, the court heard.

Prosecution examined Singh as a witness to show the court that due procedure for interception of telephone calls was properly followed, Special Prosecutor Ujjawal Nikam told PTI.

The prosecution is relying on telephonic talks between terrorists and their handlers as evidence to show that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba had carried out the Mumbai attacks.

Only some portions of CDs containing telephonic talks of 48 hours duration was played in the court.