Terror gets a brand new local identity

MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of Indian terrorism, the police has encountered methods many international terrorists use. For once, the terrorists have made every effort to blend with the aam aadmi, even as they planned to execute their deadly plan.

For starters, many of the terrorists were wearing a collection of sacred threads on their wrist similar to what many in the majority community wear. Up until now, it was always believed that such attempts at impersonation are anathema to the extremist fidayeen.

It is also believed that before the terrorists opened fire at Leopold Cafe, they sat down at the cafe, ordered dinner and a round of drinks. Up until now, the police always believed that those involved in these acts have fairly rigid religious beliefs and seldom contravene the do���s and don���ts.

A senior police officer said many terrorists, while on an operation, drink liquor even if it violates their religious beliefs. In addition to this, police say many of these men had learnt to speak with a Hyderabadi accent. The modus operandi seems to be straight out of the books of those involved in terror attacks in the West, where the idea is to meld into civil society before unleashing violence.

A senior police official told ET: ���All this is has been done to throw investigators off track and give the impression that suggests the opposite of an extremist fidayeen or a jihadi.��� It was earlier believed that the terrorists had done a reccee before their operation. However Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor told ET this was impossible to confirm now.

Mr Gafoor added, ���As of now, we do not think the terrorists undertook a reccee, but we will be able to shed more light on the subject only after the investigations are concluded.���

The terrorist who has been injured while attacking civilians at Girgaum Chowpatty is still believed to be critical.
The police have not revealed where the injured terrorist has been kept. They are also yet to recover the cars the terrorists stole after killing three senior police officers on Wednesday.