kasab's confession
November 21, 2012
From: MB/Mumbai
Kasab's confession among others nailed him
MRITYUNJAY BOSE
Mumbai: Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab's confession before court – is one of the major factors – besides other evidences – that helped the Mumbai Police and prosecutors nailing him. His confession also helped the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs – in sending dossiers after dossiers on the 26/11 attack to Pakistan.
Kasab's confession that how the non-state actors of Pakistan are hand-in-gloves with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the spy agency. The confession also had given direct evidence of how terrorists are groomed, trained and indoctrinated – in a phased manner.
Who am I?
I have resided in Faridkot, Dinalpur tehsil, Ukada district, Suba Punjab state, Pakistan since my birth. I studied up to class IV in a government school. After leaving school in 2000, I went to stay with my brother in Tohit Abad mohalla, near Yadgar Minar in Lahore. I worked as a labourer at various places till 2005, visiting my native once in a while. In 2005, I had a quarrel with my father. I left home and went to Ali Hajveri Darbar in Lahore, where boys who run away from home are given shelter. The boys are sent to different places for employment.
Kasab loves Sholay
My Faridkot home belongs to my father. He runs a thela (cart) to earn his living. I live to see TV and Hindi films. I have seen Sholay, Lawaris, Veer Zara, Aashiqui, Beta several times. I am addicted to tobacco. I am friendly with Mazhar, who is a doctor in our village. His clinic is near the Faridkot bus stop.
Reaching LeT office
We reached the LeT office and told a person that we wanted to join LeT. He noted down our names and address and told us to come the next day.The next day, there was another person with him. He gave us Rs200 and some receipts. Then he gave us the address of a place called Marqas Taiyyaba, Muridke, and told us to go to there. It was an LeT training camp. We went to the place by bus. We showed the receipts at the gate of the camp. We were allowed inside... Then we were taken to the actual camp area.
Daura-Sufa
Initially, we were selected for a 21 days' training regimen called Daura Sufa. From the next day, our training started. The daily programme was as follows: 4.15 am -- Wake-up call and thereafter Namaz; 8 am -- Breakfast; 8.30 am to 10 am -- Lecture on Hadis and Quran by Mufti Sayyed; 10 am to noon - Rest; Noon to 1 pm - Lunch break; 1 pm to 4 pm - Rest; 4 pm to 6 pm - PT; instructor: Fadulla; 6 pm to 8 pm - Namaz and other work; 8 pm to 9 pm - Dinner
Daura Ama
After Daura Sufa, we were selected for another training programme called Daura Ama. This was also for 21 days. We were taken to Mansera in Buttal village, where we were trained in handling weapons. The daily programme was as follows: 4.15 am to 5 am - Wake-up call and thereafter Namaz; 5 am to 6 am - PT; instructor: Abu Anas; 8 am - Breakfast; 8.30 am to 11.30 am - Weapons training; trainer: Abdul Rehman; weapons: AK-47, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver; 11.30 am to Noon - rest; Noon to 1 pm - Lunch break; 1 pm to 2 pm - Namaz; 2 pm to 4 pm - Rest; 4 pm to 6 pm - PT; 6 pm to 8 pm - Namaz and other work; 8 pm to 9 pm - Dinner.
Doing Khidmat
After the training, we were told that we will begin the next stage involving advanced training. But for that, we were told, we had to do some khidmat for two months (khidmat is a sort of service in the camp as per trainees' liking). We agreed. After two months, I was allowed to go to meet my parents. I stayed with my parents for a month.
Advanced training
Then I went to an LeT camp in Shaiwainala, Muzaffarabad, for advanced training...We were taken to Chelabandi pahadi area for a training programme, called Daura Khas, of three months. It involved handling weapons, using hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars. The daily programme was as follows: 4.15 amto 5 am - Wake-up call and thereafter Namaz; 5 am to 6 am - PT; instructor: Abu Mawiya; 8 am - Breakfast; 8.30 amto 11.30 am - Weapons training, handling of all weapons and firing practices with the weapons, training on handling hand grenade, rocket-launchers and mortars, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver; trainer: Abu Mawiya; 11.30 am to 12 noon - rest; Noon to 1 pm - Lunch break; 1 pm to 2 pm - Namaz; 2 pm to 4 pm - Weapons training and firing practice; lecture on Indian security agencies; 4 pm to 6 pm - PT; 6 pm to 8 pm - Namaz and other work; 8 pm to 9 pm - Dinner
Meeting Lakhvi Chacha
There were 32 trainees in the camp. Sixteen were selected for a confidential operation by one Zaki-ur-Rehman, alias Chacha, but three of them ran away from the camp. Chacha sent the remaining 13 with a person called Kafa to the Muridke camp again.
At Muridke, we were taught swimming and made familiar with the life of fishermen at sea... We were given lectures on the working of Indian security agencies. We were shown clippings highlighting atrocities on Muslims in India.After the training, we were allowed to go to our native places. I stayed with my family for seven days. I then went to the LeT camp at Muzaffarabad. The 13 of us were present for training.
In Muridke camp
Then, on Zaki-ur-Rehman's instructions, Kafa took us to the Muridke camp. The training continued for a month. We were given lectures on India and its security agencies, including RAW. We were also trained to evade security personnel. We were instructed not to make phone calls to Pakistan after reaching India.
‘Time has come for Jihad’
Amir Hafeez Saed told us – “All Mujahideen has to fight for freedom of Kashmir.” Then Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi told us – “Time has come for jihad. For the last 15 years we are fighting in Kashmir. But the Indian government is not freeing Kashmir. Now we have to go to India and achieve Kashmir after fighting there.” He then went us to ask – “are you all ready for this cause”. We all expressed our willingness. Then Abu Kama told us – “We have to attack big cities of India. We will start our war inside India. We will bleed India. Those who would die, will get jannat (heaven)”. I and my mates told them – “We are ready to attack India”.
The Bombay plan
On the 13th day of Roza, Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Muzammil alias Yusuf, Abu Al Kama, Abu Hamza, Abu Kaahfa and Abu Umer Saeed called us to the office of Baitul Mujahideen. Hafeez Saeed told us – “The financial strength of India is in Bambai (Mumbai). It is hence imperative to attack Mumbai. You all have been well training in operating in marine environment. We will use the sea route to attack Mumbai.”
Kasab excelled in firing
The Major General Sahab then came there. He embraced Hafeez Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and spoke to them a little distance away from us. Then Zaki-ur-Rehman told us that the Major General Sahab would like to review our training. All of us were given Kalashnikovs and one magazines each. Major General Sahab then told to prepare for target practice. Major General Sahab then told us – “When I say fire once, you have to fire single shot, when I say twice, you have to rapid fire.” All ten of us took positions. The saw the positions and said “fire”, and we all fired single round. Only Imran Babar missed the target. Hafeez Saeed gave him a mouthful. Major General Sahab then told him – “Practice properly”. Then he asked us to take firing positions again. This time he said fire twice. After hearing him, we emptied out magazines. Major General Sahab went to the targets and asked – “Who has fired on target number 4”. I told him that it was me. He told me – “You have completely destroyed the target. I am happy”. Then he addressed everybody – “With fewer bullets you will have to destroy the target. You will have to fire like this mujahideen”. He then left.
Baitul Mujahideen
After spending around a week in my village, I reached the Baitul Mujahideen office. There Abu Mavia took me to the Selection Point of Sevai Nala. There around 20 to 22 mujahideens were already present and besides them were Hafeez Saeedm Muzammil, Amu Hamza, Abu Mavia, Kaahfa and Abu Al Kama. There we were shown a CD on a laptop how Salauddin carried out a fisayeen attack in Kashmir. Then Abu Al Kama told us in detail about the fidayeen attacks in Kashmir.
New identity
Hafeez Saeed selected us and gave us new identity. My name was Abu Mujahid. Imran Babar who is a resident of Multan in Punjab was given the name of Abu Aakasha. Nasir who hailed from Faisalabad came to be known as Abu Umar, while Nazir Ahamed was named Abu Umer. Resident of Punjab Multan Road, Hafiz Arshad came to be known as Abdul Rehman Bada alias Hayaji. Abdul Rehman Chota of Arab Multan Road was named Saakib. Narovala, Shhakar Gad resident Shoaib came to be known as Abu Shoaib. Hujrawala, Rawalpindi Road resident was known as Abu Dazana. Similarly, our mate from Arabwala Multan Road was named Abu Hamza Umer and the resident of Kamoki Hujrawala resident was named Abu Zubair. The Karachi boy was namedAbu Al Qasam. Our mate from Kamirwala Multan Road was named Abu Abdullah. The resident of Okara, Multan Road was named Abu Nasad, Hafazabad Gujarawala Road resident came to be known as Abu Maviya. Narowala Shakkar Gad resident was named Abu Umer Kala. I do not recollect the name of others. That evening we were brought to the office of Baitul Mujahideen.
Operating in marine environment
A few days later in September 2008, Kaahfa took us to Karachi. We were put up in a house at Azizabad. The month of Ramzan coincided with our stay. Kaafa took 13 mujahideens to a creek. From there in two boats, we went into the sea off Karachi. There we boarded a mechanised vessel. In that vessel for three days, a man called Hakim Sahab trained us. During this training, we were taught to read and use navigation maps, assessing the depth of sea, use of GPS and the use of fishing nets. In the sea, often Navy personnel of the enemy ask queries. Then we were to tell them that are fishermen and pass off.
After the training, Kaahfa took us to Baitul Mujahideen. There Hafeez Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi asked us about the training.
After three days, Hafeez Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi sent Abu Dazana, Abu Hamza, Abu Al Qasam, Abu Umer Kala and Abu Zubair, totally six mujahideens for fiyadeen attacks in Kashmir. The next day, Abu Hamza brought Ismail Khan from Dera Ismail and Fahadullah and Javed of Okara to our group. They three were named Abu Ismail, Abu Fahadullah and Abu Ali. Later Abu Hamza told us – “These three are fidayeens like you. They have been trained like you. They will come with you for attacking Hindustan (India).
Buddy pairs
Thereafter, Hafeez Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi divided 10 of into buddies. Buddies are pairs.
The five pairs included 1) I and Ismail Khan 2) Imran Babar and Nasir 3) Shoaid and Nazir 4) Hafeez Arshad alias Hayaji and Javed 5) Abdul Rehman Chotta and Fahadullah. Then Zaki-ur-Rehman told us – “On the 27th day of Roza we have to launch a fidayeen attack in Mumbai”. Hafeez Saeed told us – “For reaching Mumbai from Karachi we have to hijack an Indian boat. We have to go in that boat. India’s (mali halat) financial strength also lies in sailani) tourists. That is why we have to attack places which are frequented by foreigners”.
Target selection
Hafeez Saeed then told us – “After reaching Mumbai, you all will have to attack VTS (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus earlier known as Victoria Terminus), Malabar Hill, Taj Hotel, Leopold Hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House, which is a residence of Israelis. You would have to fire and hurl grenades. While firing you have to select people from America, Britain, Israel because they have done injustice to the Muslims. While you fire at the VTS in the crowd, do not think who is a Hindu and who is a Muslim. Carry out fire bursts without any consideration. But while firing in hotels, ensure that Muslims are not harmed.” After telling this, he told the buddy pairs who will enter the hotels, to cause maximum damage by burning them. Then Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi told us – “Before you attack, plant RDX bombs near the targets. Because of these explosions there would be traffic jams and people and police coming for rescue would also be killed”.
Hafeez Saeed decided the attack time as 7.30 pm. Then I asked him specifically about the time. He told us – “During this time all these places are crowded”. Then Kaahfa told us – “All you 10 mujahideens would be given fake identity cards with Hindu names. You have to tie threads on your wrists to appear as Hindus.” Ismail asked about the necessity. Then Kaahfa told us – “No one would stop you with these I-cards and you would succeed in this mission. Police would be confused with the threads on your wrists”.
Then we decided that I and Ismail will massacre people at CST and then go to Malabar Hill and carry out firing. Hafiz Arshad and Javed would go to Taj, Fahadullah and Abu Rehman Chotta would go to Oberoi, Imran Babar and Nasir would go to Nariman House and Shoaib and Nazir Ahmed would carry out firing at Leopold and go to Taj. I was supposed to plant RDX bombs below driver’s seat in taxis while going to CST, while Nasir and Javed were to do the same while going to Leopold and Taj, respectively. We did this specifically because after the explosions people would not know from where we came and how. Rest were to plant bombs in the vicinity of the targets. The buddy pairs at Nariman House, Taj and Oberoi would call media and give information that people have been taken hostage and engage the Indian government to liberate Kashmir. We will identity (to the media) as Indian Muslims and spread misinformation about our numbers too. Hafeez Saeed told us that Abu Hamza would train us how to prepare RDX bombs and use the same.
Laptops and Google Earth
Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Muzammil alias Yusuf, Abu Al Kama, Abu Umer Saeed, Kaahfa, Abu Hamza and Zarar Shah accompanied 10 muhajideens to a big hall. There we saw two to three television sets. Zarar Shah told us that this is the control room of the media wing. On a big screen he displayed our targets. He also showed me and Ismail, a CD of CST and Malabar Hill and explained the routes. Kaahfa on a laptop with the help of Google Earth showed us how to reach CST from Badhwar Park and Malabar Hill.
Maps of Mumbai
Then Kaahfa showed some maps and told us – “Sabauddin Ahmed and Fahim Ansari from India has sent these maps. With the help of these maps, you would reach the places where you have to carry out the attacks.” Then I asked him where are Sabauddin and Fahim – to which Kaahfa said that they have been caught by police following the attack in a police camp at Rampur in Uttar Pradesh. Kaahfa also through the maps explained to us, how much time it takes to reach the targets. He also told us about landmarks like Cooperate Grounds and Azad Maidan. Similarly, he explained the rest buddy pairs based on the information provided by Sabauddin and Fahim.
Making RDX bombs
On the 15th day of Roza, Abu Hamza and Kaahfa took the group of 10 mujahideens to hills near Muzaffarabad. There were practiced firing from Kalashnikovs. We were also taught how to make tiffin-box bomb from RDX, how to attach the timer and so on. There, at the instance of Hafeez Saeed, the two trainers put Imran Babar into extensive practice of firing.
New appearance
That night we came back to Baitul Mujahideen. On the 16th day of Roza, Kaahfa told us to trim our hairs and shave off beard. We were given clothes, shoes, socks. Then Kaahfa, removed the labels from the clothes. He also gave us watches with the Indian time set on it. Our photographs were also clicked.
Then on the 1th day of Roza, by trains we went to Karachi and reached Azizabad and put up in a house. There we saw ‘Taibat’, an Urdu magazine. We also saw the news of six of the mujahideens being killed in Kashmir. I asked Kaahfa about this, who said – “Our boys were killed by security forces during an encounter.”
I-cards with Hindu names
On the 19th day of Roza, Kaahfa gave us 10 timers and explained how to attach it to a battery. Kaahfa told us to write our names on the timers and then took it back. As per the pre-decided plan, Kaahfa gave us I-cards with Hindu names. My I-card showed that I am a student of Arunodaya Degree College, Bangalore and my name was Sameer Chaudhury, son of Dinesh Choudhary. Ismail’s I-card showed he was a student of Arunodaya Degree College, Hyderabad and his name was Naresh Verma, son of Vilas Verma. The remaining I-cards also were of Arunodaya College. Nasir’s name was Dinesh Kumar Ravi Kumar, Imran Babar’s name was Arjunkumar Veerkumar, Abdul Rehman Chota’s I-card showed him as Arun Vikram Sharma, Fahadullah as Rohit Deepak Patil, Hafiz Arshad as Prabhakar Rao, Shoaeb as Sudhakar Nair, Javed as Kishore Naidu and Nazir Ahamed as Prakash Kumar.
Sinking boats!
Kaahfa then again took us to the sea off Karachi. We where there for a day. During this Hakim Sahab told us how to inflate and operate small speed boats. He also told us how to open the sea valve and sink a boat. He also told us what is ‘tul’ and ‘chaurai’. On a map, the vertical lines are known as ‘tul’ (longitude) and horizontal line as ‘chaurai’ (latitude). On the 20th day of Roza, Zaki-ur-Rehman came there and told us – “For some time the work has to be stopped”. I then told Lakhvi that there is no need to wait and that we would go as per the plan. I also told him that there is no need to worry. For years I have been waiting for this moment. Please do not stop us. Lakhvi told us – “I know, you are a committed jihadi, but wait for some time.” The next day, he left us and we stayed in Azizabad for the next few days. During this period Imran Babar made is memorise the names written on our I-cards. Among us, he was educated and knew English. We celebrated Ramzan Id at this house. Abu Hamza also taught us how to plant a bomb below the seat in a moving car. He also made me, Javed and Nazir practice it. We stayed at the Azizabad house for one-and-a-half-months. On November 18, Kaahfa took Nasir and Nazir Ahmed from there.
Mission leader
On November 21, we were taken in a vehicle from Azizabad to a house off sea. When we reached there, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu Hamza, Kaahfa, Nasir and Nazir Ahamed were already present. Zaki-ur-Rehman named Ismail Khan as the leader of the mission. The on box was opened and handed over to Ismail. It had aasla, baarud (explosive) and eatables.
Weapons
Abu Hamza has explained Ismail, how the inventory was to be divided. Ismail took notes in his diary and took the entire stock in his possession. Abu Hamza then gave Indian currency to me and Ismail. It was to the tune of Rs 10,800. They we divided among ourselves. Similarly, all the buddies shared the money. Zarar Shah then gave one cellphone to each of us. Ismail asked about the details of the numbers, to which he said that they had numbers from India. “We have deceived some people in India and got these numbers and these were to be operated once you reach Mumbai,” he told us. Then I asked how we would communicate with them. Then Zaki-ur-Rehman Laakhvi told us that Zarar has fed those numbers and once you switch on your cellphones, you can contact us and inform of the work.
He then gave us some numbers, which he asked Ismail to note in his diary. Ismail used to maintain the diary. Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi told us places like Colaba and WTC which Ismail noted in the diary. Abu Hamza also told us code words – so that suspicion is not aroused while we speak. Those codes and details of latitude and longitude were also noted by Ismail in his diary. The Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi gave a satellite phone to Ismail and left.
Inventory
Ismail then have us body sacks (rucksacks) each, one Kalashnikov, eight magazines, 240 rounds, eight hand grenades, one dagger, one pistol, three magazines of pistols, 21 rounds, water bottle, one kg kishmish (dried grapes), one headphone, three 9-volt batteries, chargers and in another small sack eight kgs of RDX, which was concealed in tiffin box. One GPS was given to each buddy pair. One waist pouch was also given to us. Once we received these, we took the Kalashnikovs and pistols and cleaned. Then we put 30 rounds each in one magazine of Kalashnikovs and seven rounds in magazines of pistols. For easy firing, we taped two magazines together – a fact that we learnt during training. The weapons and other accessories were put inside the sacks. In the night we loaded the bombs and bags in a Lashker-e-Toiba vehicle. Then Ismail told us to put the I-cards in our pockets and we followed. Abu Hamza and Kaahfa told Ismail the latitude and longitude of Mumbai.
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