Thanks & Regards,
Santhanakrishnan R | Cognizant
Technology Solutions | Extn : 432968 | Mail : santhanakrish...@cognizant.com
Mumbai:
MiD DAY
brings to you the chilling first-person account of the lone surviving
terrorist, as told to the police
Statement of accused Mohd Ajmal Amir Qasab;
Age 21 yrs. Occupation: Labour, R/O - Faridkot, Tehsil -Dipalpur, Dist
-Ukada, State -Suba Punjab, Pakistan
I am as above
and reside at the above given address since my birth. I have studied up to 4th
standard from Government Primary School.
After leaving school in 2000, I went to Lahore. My brother Afzal stays at galli
No. 54, R.No. 12, Mohalla Tohit Abad, near Yadgar Minar, Lahore. I did labour
jobs at different places till 2005. During that period I used to visit my
native place. In the year 2005, I had a quarrel with my father. Therefore, I
left my house and went to Ali Hajveri Darbar at Lahore.
At the said place, the boys who had run away from their houses are kept. From
there, the boys are sent to different places for employment. One day when I was
there, a person by name Shafiq came there and took me with him. He was in the
catering business. He was from Zhelam. I started working with him on daily
wages. I was given Rs 120 per day. After some days my salary was increased up
to Rs 200 per day. I worked with him till 2007.
While I was working with Shafiq, I came in contact with one Muzaffar Lal Khan,
aged 22 years, r/o Village -Romiya, Tehsil & Dist -Atak, State -Sarhad,
Pakistan. As we were not getting enough money, we decided to carry out robbery
/ dacoity at some place so that we will get a large amount. As such we left the
job.
Thereafter we went to Rawalpindi. We hired a flat at Bangash Colony,
Rawalpindi, and started residing in it. Afzal had located a house where he
thought we would get a large amount.
He had surveyed the said place and drawn a map of the said place. We required
some fire-arms for our purpose. Afzal told me that he could get some fire-arms
at his native place, but it was very risky, as there was frequent checking at
his native place.
While we were in search of fire-arms we saw some LeT stalls at Raja bazaar,
Rawalpindi, on the day of Bakri-id. We thought that, even if we procured
fire-arms, we could not operate them. Therefore, we decided to join LeT for
weapon training.
After making enquiries we reached LeT office. In the LeT office we met a
person. We told him that we wanted to join LeT. He made some enquiry with us,
noted our names and address and told us to come on next day.
On the next day, we went to LeT office and met the same man. One more person
was present with him.
He gave us Rs 200 and some receipt. Then he gave us the address of a place
called Marqas Taiyyaaba, Muridke, and told us to go to the said place where LeT
is having their training camp. As directed, we went to the said place by bus.
We showed the receipt given to us at the gate of the camp. We were allowed
inside. At the entry gate, our details were filled up on two forms. Then we
were taken to the actual camp area. At the said place, initially we were
selected for 21 days training called Daura-Sufa. From the next day, we started
attending training. The daily programme was as mentioned below.
04.15: Wake up call and thereafter namaz
08.00: Breakfast
08.30-10.00: Lecture on Hadis and Quran by Mufti Sayyed
10.00-12.00: Rest
12.00-13.00: Lunch Break
13.00-14.00: Namaz
14.00-16.00: Rest
16.00-18.00: PT and Game Instructor Fadulla
18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work
20.00-21.00: Dinner
After
completion of the above said training, we were selected for another training
called Daura-Ama. The said training was also for 21 days. We were then taken in
a vehicle to a place called Mansera, Buttal Village. At the said place, we were
given training of all weapons for 21 days. The daily programme was as mentioned
below.
04.15 - 05.00: Wake up call and thereafter namaz
05.00-6.00: PT Instructor abu Anas
08.00: Breakfast
08.30-11.30: Weapons training. Trainer Abdul Rehman, Weapons AK-47,
Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver
11.30-12.00: Rest
12.00-13.00: Lunch break
13.00-14.00: Namaz
14.00-16.00: Rest
16.00-18.00: PT
18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work
20.00-21.00: Dinner
After
completing the said training, we were told that, we will be given the next
advance training, but for that purpose we have to do some Khidmat for two
months (Khidmat is a sort of service in the said camp as per the trainees'
liking). We agreed to do the Khidmat for two months.
After two months, I was allowed to go to meet my parents. I stayed with my
parents for one month. Thereafter, I went to LeT camp situated at Shaiwainala,
Muzzafarabad, for further advanced training. At that place, they took my
photographs and filled up some forms. Then we were taken to Chelabandi pahadi
area for training called Duara-khas. The said training was for 3 months. The
training included PT, handling of all weapons and firing practice of the said
weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars.
The daily programme was as mentioned below.
04.15-05.00: Wake up call and thereafter namaz
05.00-06.00: PT Instructor Abu Mawiya
08.00: Breakfast
08.30-11.30: Weapons training handling of all weapons and firing practices
of the said weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and
mortars, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver, Hand grenade, rocket
launchers. Trainer Abu Mawiya
11.30-12.00: Rest
12.00-13.00: Lunch Break
13.00-14.00: Namaz
14.00-16.00: Weapon training and firing practice. Lecture on Indian
security agencies
16.00-18.00: PT
18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work
20.00-21.00: Dinner
At the said
place 32 persons were present for training.
Out of these 32 trainees, 16 were selected for some confidential operation by
one Zaqi-ur-Rehman Chacha. Out of these 16 trainees 3 trainees ran away from
the camp. The above said chacha then sent the remaining 13 of us along with a
person called Kafa to the above said earlier camp at Muridke. At Muridke, we
were taught swimming and getting acquainted with the environment experienced by
a fisherman on a sea.
We did some experimental tours by launches on the sea. During the said training,
we were given lectures on working of Indian security agencies. We were shown
the clippings highlighting the atrocities on Muslims in India.
After completing the said training, we were allowed to go to our native places.
For seven days, I stayed with my family members. After seven days I went to the
LeT camp at Muzzafarabad.
The above said 13 of us were present for training. Thereafter, as per the
instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman, the above said Kafa took us to camp at Muridke.
At the said camp again we underwent the training of swimming and getting
acquainted with the environment and experience on sea. The training continued
for one month.
During the said training, we were given the lectures on India and its
security agencies, including RAW. We were also given the training on how
to evade the chase by security personnel. We were strictly instructed not to
make phone calls to Pakistan after reaching India.
The names of the persons present for the said training are as mentioned below.
Mohd Azmal aka Abu Muzahid
Ismail aka Abu Umar
Abu Ali
Abu Aksha
Abu Umer
Abu Shoeb
Abdul Rehman (Bada)
Abdul Rehman (Chhota)
Afadulla
Abu Umar
After
completion of training, Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha selected 10 of us and formed
5 teams each having two persons on 15 Sept 2008. My team included myself and
Ismail. Our code name was VTS team. We were then shown the site 'Google Earth'
on Internet. On the same site, we were shown the information about Azad Maidan,
Mumbai, how and where to get down at Mumbai. We were shown the film on VT
railway station and the film showing the commuters moving around at rush hours
at VT railway station.
We were instructed to carry out the firing at rush hours in the morning between
7 to 11 hours and between 7 to 11 hours in the evening. Then kidnap some
persons, take them to the roof of some nearby building. After reaching at the
roof top, we were to contact chacha. After that, chacha would give the
telephone or mobile no of electronic media. We were then to contact the media
persons on the same phone. And as per the instructions received from chacha, we
would make demands for releasing the hostages. This was the general strategy
decided by our trainers.
The date fixed for the said operation was 27th Sept 2008. However, the
operation was cancelled for some reason. We stayed at Karachi. Again we made
practice of travelling by speed boats on the sea. We stayed there upto 23rd Nov
2008. The other teams were as mentioned below.
2nd Team
1) Abu Aksha
2) Abu Umar
3rd Team
1) Bada Abdul Rehman
2) Abu Ali
4th Team
1) Chhota Abdul Rehman
2) Afadulla
5th Team
1) Shoeb
2) Abu Umer
On 23rd Nov
2008, the above said teams including our team left from Azizabad, Karachi along
with Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha and Kafa. We were taken to the nearby sea shore.
At 04.15 hours we reached the sea shore. At the sea shore we boarded a launch.
After traveling for 22 to 25 nautical miles we met a bigger launch in the sea.
We boarded the said launch and after journey of 1 hour we boarded a bigger ship
by name Al-Huseini in the deep sea. While boarding the said ship, each of us
was given a sack containing 8 grenades, one AK-47 rifle, 200 cartridges, 2
magazines and one cell phone for communication.
Then we started towards Indian coast. When we reached Indian waters, the crew
members of Al-Huseini ship hijacked one Indian launch. The seamen from the said
launch were shifted to Al-Huseini ship. We were then boarded the hijacked
Indian ship. One Indian seaman was kept along with us.
At the gun point, he took us towards the Indian coast. After journey of about 3
days, we reached near sea shore of Mumbai. While we were at some distance from
the shore, Ismail and Afadulla killed the Indian seaman, (Tandel) at the
basement of the said Indian launch. Then we boarded floatable dinghi and
reached Budwar Park Jetty as per the instructions received earlier.
After getting down at Budwar Park, I went along with Ismail to VT railway stn
by taxi.
After reaching the hall of VT railway stn. We, i.e. Ismail and myself, went to
the common toilet, took out the weapons from our sacks, loaded them, came out
of toilet and started firing indiscriminately towards the passengers.
Suddenly one police officer in uniform came towards us and opened fire. In
retaliation, we threw hand grenades towards him and also opened fire towards
him. Then we went inside the railway stn threatening the commuters and randomly
firing at them.
Then we came out of the railway stn and started searching for a building with
roof top. But we did not find a suitable building. Therefore, we entered a
lane. Then we entered a building and went upstarts. On 3rd or 4th floor we
searched for hostages but we found that the said building was a hospital and
not a residential building. Therefore we started coming down.
At that time policemen started firing at us. As such we threw some grenades
towards them. When we were coming out of the hospital premises, we suddenly saw
one police vehicle passing in front of us. Therefore, we took shelter behind a
bush.
Another vehicle passed in front of us and stopped at some distance. One police
officer got down from the said vehicle and started firing at us. One bullet hit
my hand and my AK-47 dropped down. I bent to pick it up when second bullet hit
me on the same hand. I got injured. Ismail opened fire at the officers who were
in said vehicle. They got injured and firing from their side stopped.
We waited for some time and then went towards the said vehicle. Three bodies
lying there. Ismail removed the three bodies and drove the said vehicle. I sat
next to him. While we were moving in the said vehicle, some police men tried to
stop us. Ismail opened fire towards them while we were on the move; our vehicle
got punctured near a big ground by the side of road. Ismail got down from the driver
seat, stopped a car at the gun point and removed the three lady occupants from
the said car. Then Ismail carried me to the car and sat me inside as I was
injured. Then he drove the said car.
While we were moving in the said car, we were stopped on the road near sea
shore. Ismail fired towards them. Some policemen got injured. Police also
opened fire towards us. Due to the police firing Ismail got injured. Then
police removed us to some hospital. In the hospital I came to know that Ismail
succumbed to the injuries he has sustained.
My statement
is read over to me, explained in Hindi and it is correctly recorded.
(The
statement has been reproduced verbatim)
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