He makes arms and supplies them too

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Investigations into the seizure of 10 revolvers and a carbine last fortnight have revealed that the arrested accused, Kailash Singh (28), himself had manufactured all the revolvers. Singh told the police that he would manufacture one revolver in three days, at a cost of Rs 500. This is the first time that the police have caught someone who is both a weapon maker and supplier.

Singh, a native of Madhya Pradesh, was arrested by the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on November 12 from Amar Mahal in Chembur. The ATS had, on the first day of the arrest, concluded that Singh was not associated with any terror outfit. “He comes from a poor family in MP. Most of the people manufacture firearms and then sell it to those who want illegal weapons. We got information that Singh had come to deliver this consignment to some people in Mumbai,’’ said an ATS officer, admitting that they failed to find out who was to receive the weapons in Mumbai.

“Singh told us that he used tyres of heavy vehicles like trucks or buses while assembling a firearm. He would burn the tyre and later used the tyre’s spring in a revolver’s trigger. He would cut and mould iron plates to give them the shape of a revolver,’’ said an officer.

Singh, a father of four, would hardly spend Rs 500 to assemble a revolver and then write ‘made in England’ on it. He would sell it for Rs 2,000. “Even the Madhya Pradesh police suspect that he is a weapon maker and supplier but not a single FIR is registered against him,’’ said an officer.

Police had been monitoring Singh’s movements for a while, said an officer, adding that Singh was a professional weapons carrier and this was his fourth visit to the city.

The Times of India, November 30, 2009

Kavita Karkare's interview

Mateen Hafeez interviewing Kavita Karkare at her Dadar residence on Nov. 25, 2009 (pic by Hemant Shirodkar)

November 26, 2009

‘We were trapped between smoke, fire and bullets’

ALERT TEAM: Sub-inspector Nitin Kakade led the team that found the bomb by the Taj

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: Sub-inspector Nitin Kakade who was part of a police team that first spotted an eight-kg RDX bomb outside the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, recalls that his team was caught between flames and bullets while rescuing people from the hotel during the 26/11 attack last year.

“I was on the day shift and had evacuated around 200 illegal hawkers from the Leopold lane. As it turned out, that actually prevented more casualties. I was writing up a daily report when I heard about firing near the Taj. I took my revolver and three colleagues and went there,’’ said the 35-year-old officer. But finding no one there, the team went to Leopold, entering the cafe covering each other. As 10-15 injured people were sent to hospital, the police team learned that two gunmen had gone to the Taj. “Near the hotel, someone informed us that two men entered it after firing at the north entrance, shattering its glass, and two others had entered via the main entrance,’’ added Kakade.

The police went to the main gate. “This was when someone told us the two terrorists were sitting near the hotel. When we reached there, we found a box with suspicious-looking contents. We informed the bomb squad, which later found that it was an RDX bomb,’’ said Kakade.

The police team found an unexploded grenade on the ground floor of the hotel. “Two foreigners were lying injured, so we first evacuated them. We then smothered the grenade with a sofa to reduce its intensity in case it exploded,’’ said Kakade, whose father retired from the force as an assistant sub-inspector.

In the next two to three hours, people were rescued from the pool, kitchen and other areas. By this time, deputy commissioners of police Vishwas Nangre Patil and Rajvardhan Sinha arrived at the scene. Hotel manager Karambir Kang informed them that his family was trapped and the terrorists were kicking at their door. The police stopped the lift to curb the terrorists’ movements.

The police then started firing on the terrorists, who then started setting the hotel on fire. “I can’t forget the scene. On one side, there was fire and smoke, while terrorists sprayed bullets on the other. We couldn’t see a thing,’’ said Kakade.

He added that the team’s toughest task was to carry the body of their colleague Rahul Shinde, who was shot by the terrorists. “Several police officers sustained bullet injures and some had burn injuries. However, our attempt to prevent terrorists from moving freely around the hotel helped expedite rescue operations,’’ said Kakade.

The Times of India, November 26, 2009

24 docs in 12 months for public enemy No 1

Prafulla Marpakwar, Malathy Iyer,Kartikeya & Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Doctor: Name?
Patient: Ajmal Amir Kasab.
Doctor: Nationality?
Patient: Pakistan.

Police sources present when this conversation (a routine protocol for every medico-legal case) took place concede it established for the first time the lethal link that the 26/11 probe hinges on.

In the 12 months since he was captured alive, nearly 24 doctors have called on Ajmal Kasab at his Arthur Road cell. “Whenever he complained about one or the other ailment, we took a doctor to examine him,’’ a senior cop said.

But a year down the line, doctors in Nair Hospital, where Kasab was taken along with his dead mate, are in no mood to talk about the bloody night. “No comments,’’ say doctors when asked about Kasab. Some, however, commented on the paradox of how doctors had to treat Kasab while attending to others hit by terrorists’ bullets.

And his first night on Indian soil wasn’t the only time India’s Enemy No 1 had a brush with Indian doctors. Although a senior crime branch official on Wednesday told TOI there was nothing wrong with Kasab’s health right now except for his congenital ulcer, he has been to several hospitals. “Kasab was a prized catch. As a result, taking care of his health was our top priority and it was decided to shift him to St George hospital,’’ a police official said.

Since the media was on high alert, shifting Kasab was a big problem, but the sleuths came up with a novel idea. “We kept a dummy of Kasab in the crime branch and the real Kasab was shifted to St George hospital. He was there for well over a week, while at the crime branch office, it appeared as if Kasab was very much in the lockup,’’ he said.

During his week-long stay at St George hospital, most medical tests were conducted by leading doctors from J J Hospital. “There were surgeons, eye specialists, physicians, but it was a secret operation. We ensured doctors were shifted from the J J Hospital to St George in a private vehicle and none of them were aware of the fact that they had been called to examine the dreaded terrorist,’’ he said. Even after his return to the Arthur Road jail, Kasab was treated for an eye problem.

Kasab has, at various points of time, told the special court of Justice M L Tahaliyani about his ailments (see box), from the benign-sounding acidity or painful stomach ulcers. Joint commissioner of police Rakesh Maria has been famously quoted as saying it has been a challenge to keep him alive. Initial reports gleaned through police sources mentioned Kasab had said he wanted to live when brought to Nair Hospital, but what struck most Indians was his casual and smiling demeanour. State government sources say a doctor specialising in criminal psychiatry also met Kasab several times last year to evaluate his psychological make-up.

``A lot has been said about Kasab’s sudden confession to the special court a few months ago but people forget his confession began right in Nair Hospital’s trauma unit on November 26, 2008,’’ says a senior civic official.

What Medicos Told The Court
Dr Venkat Ramamurthy identified Ajmal Amir Kasab in court as the person with five injuries on his body who he treated at Nair Hospital. He said Kasab had a one-cm dispel to the elbow joint with contaminated stain, and at 2.5 cm from that a 3x2.5 cm lacerated wound on the posterior medieval right elbow. There was a 3x1 cm lacerated wound on the dorsal ulna of his left wrist joint, a 5x6 cm bruise, abrasion on the left thigh and a minor abrasion on anterior of the right thigh. “Kasab also had a one-cm puncture wound over his right posterior elbow, which could have been a bullet injury,’’ he said. He added a person could fire a gun with such injuries.

Two other doctors from Nair Hospital, Dr Yogita Delkar and Dr Vikas K Kesari, also identified Kasab. Delkar said two police sub-inspectors and a constable had brought two patients with firearm injuries. She also identified the entries made at casualty register (no 18555) for deceased Abu Ismail and (no 18556) for Kasab. | TNN

Kasab’s Complaints
Acidity
The stomach secretes acid which helps in breaking down the food during digestion. But excess production of acid in the stomach results in acidity

Stomach Ulcer
The inner lining of the stomach has a mucus cover to protect cells against acid produced to digest the food. But at times the balance between the acid production and mucus covering is destroyed, leading to development of ulcer

Causes
Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) Overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin

Doctors’ Diagnosis For Kasab
Doctors say Ajmal’s Kasab’s ulcer is a congenital complaint

Hiatal Hernia
Occurs when part of the stomach pushes upward through the diaphragm. The diaphragm has a small opening (hiatus) that allows your food tube (oesophagus) to pass through on its way to connect to the stomach. The stomach can push up through this opening and cause hiatal hernia

Most small hiatal hernias show no signs Larger hiatal hernias can cause signs and symptoms such as: Heartburn Belching Chest pain Nausea Hiatal hernia could be caused by: Injury to the area An inherited weakness in surrounding muscles Intense pressure on surrounding muscles

Depression
One of the most common health conditions in the world, it affects the way a person thinks and behaves and can cause a variety of emotional and physical problems. It’s believed that a variety of biochemical (hormonal imbalance), genetic and environmental factors (loss of a loved one, financial problem or high stress) may cause depression

The Times of India, November 26, 2009

Karkares move on, but scars stay

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: For the first time in a month and a half, Hemant and Kavita Karkare were having dinner together on November 26 last year. The ATS chief had been so busy in following up on the Malegaon blast that he could never sit down to a meal with her, said Kavita. On 26/11, he left midway through his meal to combat terrorists at CST. That was the last time Kavita saw him.

“During dinner, Hemant got a call saying there was trouble. He grabbed his shoes and got into the car,’’ said Kavita, a lecturer at the NSS B Ed college, Tardeo. “He was a workaholic, and we were used to it,’’ she added. Kavita said the responsibility of running the family rested on her shoulders since Karkare, a former RAW officer, was gunned down by the terrorists.

“When my husband was with us, our children relied on him for everything. Now it’s difficult to handle the family without him,’’ she said. The Karkares’ elder daughter Sayli, a software engineer, lives with her husband in the US. Their younger daughter Juhi has joined the UN. Their youngest child, son Aakash, studies law in Pune.

To commemorate Karkare’s passing, Aakash is currently in Mumbai. “We’ll perform a pooja and attend a shraddhanjali programme,’’ said Shirish, Karkare’s younger brother. The Karkares said it has been painful to read every day about 26/11 in the newspapers, and to watch the news on TV as well.

Recalling Karkare’s days during the Malegaon blast probe, Kavita said he was not tense at all. “He never discussed the probe with me. He knew what he was doing was right. He was a man of principles,’’ she said.

Kavita recalled her last conversation with her husband. “I called him up on his cell phone to ask what was happening. Hemant said he was on the spot and would call back soon. Those were his last words.’’ Kavita and Hemant Karkare fell in love after they met during a personality development programme organised by the National Productivity Council. Karkare was one of the speakers.

On the allegedly sub-standard bulletproof jacket Karkare was wearing on the night of 26/11, Kavita was clear. She said, “It was a substandard jacket. The officers who have been saying that it was not sub-standard should wear it and demonstrate their claims.’’ The Karkare family is currently busy compiling the late ATS chief’s biography. The as-yet-untitled book is likely to be released next month.

The Times of India, November 26, 2009

Karkares move on, but scars stay

Kavita Karkare during the interview on Nov. 25, 2009 (pic by Hemant Shirodkar)

Mateen Hafeez | TNN
Mumbai: For the first time in a month and a half, Hemant and Kavita Karkare were having dinner together on November 26 last year. The ATS chief had been so busy in following up on the Malegaon blast that he could never sit down to a meal with her, said Kavita. On 26/11, he left midway through his meal to combat terrorists at CST. That was the last time Kavita saw him.

“During dinner, Hemant got a call saying there was trouble. He grabbed his shoes and got into the car,’’ said Kavita, a lecturer at the NSS B Ed college, Tardeo. “He was a workaholic, and we were used to it,’’ she added. Kavita said the responsibility of running the family rested on her shoulders since Karkare, a former RAW officer, was gunned down by the terrorists.

“When my husband was with us, our children relied on him for everything. Now it’s difficult to handle the family without him,’’ she said. The Karkares’ elder daughter Sayli, a software engineer, lives with her husband in the US. Their younger daughter Juhi has joined the UN. Their youngest child, son Aakash, studies law in Pune.

To commemorate Karkare’s passing, Aakash is currently in Mumbai. “We’ll perform a pooja and attend a shraddhanjali programme,’’ said Shirish, Karkare’s younger brother. The Karkares said it has been painful to read every day about 26/11 in the newspapers, and to watch the news on TV as well.

Recalling Karkare’s days during the Malegaon blast probe, Kavita said he was not tense at all. “He never discussed the probe with me. He knew what he was doing was right. He was a man of principles,’’ she said.

Kavita recalled her last conversation with her husband. “I called him up on his cell phone to ask what was happening. Hemant said he was on the spot and would call back soon. Those were his last words.’’ Kavita and Hemant Karkare fell in love after they met during a personality development programme organised by the National Productivity Council. Karkare was one of the speakers.

On the allegedly sub-standard bulletproof jacket Karkare was wearing on the night of 26/11, Kavita was clear. She said, “It was a substandard jacket. The officers who have been saying that it was not sub-standard should wear it and demonstrate their claims.’’ The Karkare family is currently busy compiling the late ATS chief’s biography. The as-yet-untitled book is likely to be released next month.

The Times of India, November 26, 2009

26/11: Cops want to question duo held in Italy

Mateen Hafeez & S Ahmed Ali I TNN

Mumbai: The city police have compiled a Letter Rogatory that will be submitted in the special trial court for 26/11. This letter of request will be sent to Italy as part of the probe into the arrest of the father-son duo who are suspected to have played a role in the Mumbai carnage.

Joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria said they planned to send a police team to Italy once they get the go ahead. “The special court will send the letter to an Italian court where Yaqub Janjua (60) and his son Aamir Janjua (31) are being tried. We would like to question them,’’ the officer said.

The Janjuas were caught by the Brescia police in north Italy on November 21, on charges of aiding and abetting international terrorism, illegal financial transaction and human trafficking.

According to the crime branch, of the 10 LeT operatives who unleashed terror on the city last year, four were in touch with their Pakistani handlers through a VoIP network. The names of Janjuas and a few other Pakistani nationals have cropped up for allegedly paying the Callphonex firm to take the VoIP connection on November 25, last year, a day before the attack, a source said.

The payments to Callphonex (New Jersy) was made in the name of a Pakistani national, Javed Iqbal, who stayed illegally in Barcelona, Spain. The Janjuas, who own a money transferring firm, Madeena Trading, in Brescia, used Javed Iqbal’s name in the transactions. In fact, between 2006 and 2008, the Janjuas used Iqbal’s identity for more than 300 times to transfer money to various countries. The financial transaction made under Iqbal’s name total to around 4,00,000 Euros.

The Times of India, November 25, 2009