UP police officer implicates Faheem in 26/11 case

A police officer from Uttar Pradesh today implicated Faheem Ansari in the 26/11 case saying he had seized from him a passport and an identity card issued by the Pakistani authorities, besides maps showing locations of Mumbai some of which were targetted in Mumbai terror attacks.

"After a terror strike at CRPF in Rampur, UP, in January 2008, Faheem was detained on suspicion. A Pakistani passport with his photograph, an identity card issued by 'Hukumate Pakistan', a pistol made in Peshawar arms factory and nine maps of Mumbai were recovered from him," ASP Ashok Kumar Raghav told prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.
    
Faheem was also carrying railway tickets - Bandra (Mumbai) to Muzaffarpur of January 10, 2008 and New Delhi to Mumbai of February 12,2008, the UP police official said.

Faheem is facing the 26/11 trial along with Sabauddin Ahmed and lone surviving Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab. According to the prosecution, Faheem had allegedly made maps of targets and gave it to Sabauddin who in turn forwarded them to LeT operatives in Pakistan for executing attacks.

Asked if he could identify Faheem in the court, the officer pointed at the accused sitting in the dock saying, "He is the one whom I had arrested in UP."

In another development, CCTV footage showing two gunmen at Hotel Oberoi with AK-47 rifles, was screened in the court in the presence of an eye witness who identified the duo on the basis of their description.

Pradeep Manglorkar, a steward at Khandhar restaurant in Oberoi, identified the two terrorists shown in the CCTV footage, saying the one wearing dark blue shirt was leading the team and giving instructions. The terrorist had also killed a waiter who was slow in following instructions to set afire furnitures, Manglorkar said.
    
However, during cross examination, the witness told defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi that the faces of two terrorists were not clear in the CCTV footage.

Rajesh Kadam, security officer at Oberoi, said 50 NSG personnel had arrived at the hotel to fight the terrorists on November 27 last. They had formed three teams which searched each and every room of the hotel up to the 18th floor, evacuating several guests. He was a member of one of the team.

When they opened room number 1856, they were received by gun shots and hence retreated to the staircase. One of the terrorists came out and there was exchange of fire between them. A Major, who was part of the team was injured in leg.
    
The terrorist shouted "agar tumhari himmath hai to baharaa jayo, chup chup ke kyon vaar karte ho?" (if you have courage come out, why are you attacking by taking a cover).

Col RK Sharma then shouted and said "hum to bahar hain, tum kyon chupke baithe ho?" (we are out in the open, why are you hiding), the witness told prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.
    
According to the prosecution, terrorists Fahadullah and Abdul Rehman Chotta had entered Oberoi and killed 35 persons including nine foreigners. They were later killed by NSG.