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Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008
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I was misled: Ajmal tells police

Staff Reporter

Mumbai: Mumbai terror-accused Mohammad Ajmal Amir Iman wishes to write to his parents stating that he was “misled” into the act by the group, Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), told journalists here on Monday.

Ajmal hails from Faridkot in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The rest of the nine accused, killed in the counter-terror operation, also hailed from the same province, Mr. Maria said.

Three of the accused were from Okara district, three from Multan, two from Faisalabad and one was from Sialkot. Ismail Khan, who was killed in the encounter at Girgaum Chowpatty, belonged to Dera Ismail Khan district in the North-West Frontier Province. He was the leader of the group, said Mr. Maria. “He knew how to operate the Global Positioning System (GPS) set and the outboard engine of a dinghy. This was not his first operation for the Lashkar.” Besides nationality, there is other evidence that points to the Pakistan connection. “The 9-mm pistol [recovered from Ismail Khan] was manufactured at Diamond Nedi Frontier Arms Company, Peshawar,” said Mr. Maria.

Toiletries recovered from the dinghy bear Pakistan’s seal. The matchboxes, medical kit, wheat flour, sugar, rice and washing powder have “markings” of places in Pakistan, said Mr. Maria.

The terrorists had used an inflatable rubber dinghy to arrive at the Mumbai coast. The Mumbai police have sought the transfer warrant for Lashkar operative Fahim Ansari. He will be produced in court on Tuesday for custody. “There is reasonable apprehension that he knew about the conspiracy.”

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