Pak admits four dead terrorists are its nationals

Sanjeev Shivadekar & Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Pakistan has admitted to the Indian government that four of the nine terrorists involved in the 26/11 attack are all Pakistani nationals, state home minister Jayant Patil revealed on Monday. “Though they have admitted to the identity of only four, we will send all nine terrorists’ bodies back to Pakistan,’’ he added.

Patil refused to say which Pakistani dossier had admitted the involvement of four of their nationals.

Mumbai crime branch chief Rakesh Maria said they had written to the ministry of home affairs on Monday. “Four bodies lying at the JJ morgue were identified with names and their Pakistani addresses by sole surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab. They were Fahadullah, Abu Ismail, Abdur Rehman Bada and Abu Akanksha. Fahadullah was killed at Trident, Akanksha and Rehman Bada were gunned down at Nariman House while Ismail was killed in an encounter at Chowpatty,’’ said Maria. “We have written the four slain terrorists’ addresses, attached their photos and information about their involvement,’’ he added.

Patil admitted that in spite of the best efforts by doctors to preserve them, the bodies are in a high state of decomposition. He said, “We will wait for 10-12 days for the reply. If these bodies are not accepted by Pakistan within this timeframe, then we would take a decision to dispose them off.’’

The samples necessary for DNA and forensic tests have already been removed from these bodies, he added.

Significantly, this is the third time that the state government has written to the Union home ministry asking them to inform Pakistan to take the bodies back to Pakistan.

Muslim groups and organisations had earlier said that they will not allow the bodies of the terrorists to be buried in their burial grounds as the acts committed by the men were not of Muslims.

Kasab wants a clock to keep time for Ramzan
Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab has told the court that he wanted to fast during the holy month of Ramzan. He has also requested that he be allowed to keep a clock in his cell so that he can keep track of time while observing rozas. Judge M L Tahaliyani is expected to consult jail authorities before passing an order. MTNL will set up video-conferencing facilities inside the special court to enable three foreign witnesses to depose. They will give evidence about the communication link the terrorists used. —Kartikeya

8 months on, 26/11 hero awaits credit for courage

BRAVEHEART: Quick Response Team commando Sachin Patil helped rescue 115 people from Hotel Trident

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: He was the hero who rescued 115 people from Hotel Trident during the 26\11 terror attack. But eight months later, the Quick Response Team (QRT) commando Sachin Patil is still waiting for his role to be recognised by the state government.

Over 15 city police personnel, who were posted outside the Trident, Hotel Taj, Nariman House or Cama Hospital, were selected for the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG). However, 27-year-old Patil’s name did not appear in any reward list. A letter recommending Patil for the PPMG was also compiled by the ATS but never sent to the higher-ups.

Patil is the only policeman whose service was appreciated by the National Security Guard (NSG). In a letter, NSG’s Lt Col R K Sharma, operation in charge at Trident, termed Patil a brave cop for his outstanding performance during the 26/11.

On the night of November 26, 2008, Patil along with six others reached CST. “We were trying to open a motorman’s cabin in a local train thinking that terrorists could be inside. However, we found two motormen instead. We searched all the trains, looking for terrorists. It took 20 minutes, by which time, Kasab and Ismail Dera Khan had run off to Cama Hospital. When we entered Cama, it was too late. They had fled in a police jeep towards Mantralaya. Chasing them, we went to Hotel Trident and came to know about another terrorists’ team hiding there,’’ said Patil, an arts graduate.

With the help of Trident’s staff, Patil and six other commandos entered the building through a staircase to rescue people. The next morning, NSG commandos also took position and the QRT commandos were briefed on handling the operation. Patil accompanied NSG’s senior officers to the terrace. He brought hotel occupants in one room on each floor and then guide them to the ground floor.

“It was dark as all the lights were switched off. Using a torch would have been risky as it could alert the terrorists. I would first talk to the NSG through a walkie-talkie and then climb the staircase holding my AK-47 and a Glock pistol,’’ said Patil adding that it was difficult to convince the scared guests to come out of their rooms.

Patil also carried seven to eight victims on his shoulder and brought them on the ground floor. “Some victims have now become good friends and call me up frequently. I joined the police to serve the nation. By saving several lives, I have achieved my goal,’’ said Patil who hails from Pen taluka in Raigarh. Patil was busy in the rescue operation for over 40 hours. Once the Trident operation was over, he joined other commandos at Hotel Taj the same day.

Residents of Pen taluka organised several functions to felicitate Patil. Minister of state for home, Naseem Khan, said, “I don’t know about Patil. I will ask the police officers about his performance and adequate steps will be taken to reward him.’’

The Times of India, August 10, 2009

‘Shootout at Nagpada was supari killing’

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: The crime branch on Sunday said it was on the verge of cracking last week’s shootout case near Nagpada, in which two persons, including the owner of a gambling club, Zahid Hasan Amir alias Chhote Miya and his nephew Arshad Hussain, were gunned down. The killing was the result of business rivalry and a contract was given to kill Zahid, the investigators said.

“We are verifying the facts and will solve the case within 48 hours,’’ said crime branch chief Rakesh Maria.

Zahid and Hussain were sitting outside the Taj Cinema near Grant Road when three unidentified persons opened fire on them before fleeing. Zahid’s name hogged the limelight in April when informer Irfan Chindi was stabbed to death. Ifran’s kin had alleged that Zahid had plotted his murder. Some members of Zahid’s rival gang had reportedly gone to UP last month. They are believed to have given Zahid’s supari there.

The Times of India, August 10, 2009

ATS was ready for any eventuality

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: As early as three weeks ago, the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) had begun preparing the ground for moving the higher court in case MCOCA charges in the Malegaon blasts case were dropped.

Additional commissioners of police—Param Bir Singh and Sukhvindar Singh—met the state advocate general Ravi Kadam ago and briefed him about the court developments in the Malegaon blast case. The court has been hearing the bail pleas of two key accused, Lieutenant colonel Prasad Purohit and antique weapons collector Rakesh Dawade. Their counsels had been contesting the ATS decision to invoke MCOCA in the case.

Param Bir Singh said, “We were closely monitoring the case and preparing for any adverse order as well. We met the advocate general and briefed him about a possible adverse order.’’. Ravi Kadam, advocate general, told TOI, “They wanted to know what to do if they receive an adverse order. I meet them for other cases too.’’ The ATS had also consulted former high court judge Ashutosh Kumbhakoni on this issue.

The special MCOCA court judge Y D Shinde on Friday dropped the charges of MCOCA from the Malegaon blast saying the prosecution failed to prove that it was the work of an organised crime syndicate. The state government announced that it would go in appeal against this order.

Eleven suspects including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Purohit were arrested for 2008 Malegaon blast that killed
six. They were booked under the MCOCA in November last year. Two suspects had also given their confessional statements under the MCOCA.

Judge Shinde, in the first week of July, had complained of having received threat calls from unidentified callers. Shinde was provided police protection after the threat calls.

The ATS is likely to engage senior lawyer Amit Desai to appear on the prosecution’s behalf in the Bombay High Court when the ATS files an appeal in the HC.

The Times of India, August 3, 2009

ATS to have info analysis wing

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: Eights months after the 26/11 terror attack in the city, the state antiterrorism squad (ATS) is set to have its own information analysis wing and a technical department to analyse photographs, audio and videos. The squad will no longer depend on the forensic science laboratory for this.

The government had last week sanctioned around 200 new posts for police personnel who would be posted in new wings. “The induction of more manpower and advanced technology will help us in our probes,’’ said ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi.

The technical data wing will be supervised by a deputy commissioner of police and assisted by four officers of the rank of assistant commissioner of police. Analysis of photographs, audiovideo evidence, fake Indian currency, mobile scanning and cyber monitoring will be assigned to this wing. Another job of this unit will be keeping tabs on narcotic and hawala transactions across the state. An ACP will be in charge of the cyber unit and will decide on cases related to the Information Technology Act.

The government has decided to make Aurangabad the second ATS headquarters. An additional commissioner of police (for the rest of Maharashtra) will have an office in Pune. “Two more units at Akola and Nanded will soon be started,’’ said Raghuvanshi.

The Times of India, August 3, 2009

11 Malegaon blast accused get a breather, MCOCA Dropped, Cops Shamed

Indian Army's Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, a Malegaon blast accused

Kartikeya & Mateen Hafeez I TNN Mumbai: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra police suffered a major setback in the Malegaon blast case on Friday when a special court in Mumbai dropped all charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against 11 suspects, including former armyman Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.

The dropping of charges means that the accused will no longer face trial under the stringent law and their case will be sent back to a regular court in Nashik. As long was MCOCA was applicable to the case, the prosecution enjoyed a considerable advantage as it could use confessions given by the accused to police officers as evidence. The decision to strike down MCOCA may also make it easier for the accused to get bail.

Six people were killed in Malegaon on September 29 last year when a bomb fitted on a motorcycle went off. The police traced the bike to Pragya Singh Thakur, a religious preacher. The police zeroed in on Purohit after his name cropped up in phone intercepts.

The Times of India, August 1, 2009

Absence of crime record helped sadhvi & gang

It is alleged in the chargesheet that all 11 were members of a right-wing Hindu organisation, Abhinav Bharat, which wanted to establish a Hindu rashtra through violent means

MALEGAON DIARY

Sept 29 2008 Bike blast at Dikku Chowk in central Malegaon, six killed
Oct 23 Three persons, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, arrested
Oct 15 Army officer Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit held
Nov 20 ATS invokes MCOCA against 11 accused
Jan 28, 2009 Police file 4,528-page chargesheet
July 31 Court drops MCOCA charges against the accused

Kartikeya & Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: One of the primary reasons why judge Y D Shinde held that MCOCA was not applicable to the Malegaon case was the prosecution’s failure to show that all the accused were members of a single organised crime syndicate.

It is alleged in the chargesheet that all 11 were members of a right-wing Hindu organisation, Abhinav Bharat, which wanted to establish a Hindu rashtra through violent means. They are charged with planning several blasts across
the country and also organising terror training camps for the youth. Purohit, then a serving army officer, was charged with supplying the RDX.

However, the absence of a criminal record of most of the accused also made it difficult for the police to justify the use of MCOCA which is meant to deal with hardened criminals and gangsters.

The accused were slapped with MCOCA on November 20, 2008—more than a month after their arrests. They marshalled a battery of top-notch criminal lawyers such as Mahesh Jethmalani and Shrikant Shivade, who started questioning the validity of MCOCA.

Shivade argued that when MCOCA was applied, the requirement of two previous chargesheets against at least one of the accused for a similar offence of resorting to violence for monetary gains had not been fulfilled. Jethmalani, who represented the Sadhvi, had argued that the application of MCOCA was a mala fide move by the state.

Shivade had also said that two chargesheets were hastily filed against an accused, antique arms dealer Rakesh Dhawade, only after his name surfaced in the Malegaon case, so that MCOCA could be applied to the case and the other 10 accused. Dhawade, who is alleged to be a fund raiser for the group, was chargesheeted for his role in the 2003 blast at Parbhani and a 2004 blast in Jalna only after he had been booked in the Malegaon blasts case.

ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi said he would first study the court’s order and then decide on the next move. Shinde has given four weeks’ time to the prosecution to go in appeal to the Bombay HC. “We have a watertight case and will challenge the order. I have not seen the order so can’t comment,’’ he told TOI.

The Times of India, August 1, 2009