Retracing Mumbai's 26/11

As the anniversary of Mumbai's 26/11 terror attack draws near, we go back to just a month before the attack last year to retrace the terror route

Even as the state government has sanctioned Rs 127 crore for Mumbai's security, the memory of 26/11 is still alive. In fact, it is almost a year since the overseas-based Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) operatives sent sensitive information about a group of marine commandos being trained at Chelanamdi Pahadi near Muzzafarabad in Pakistan.

The details were not specific then, but there were indications that a team of crack commandos were being trained to launch a seaborne attack on Mumbai. As a precautionary measure, the police stepped up vigil in the city.

33 SIM cards
Intelligence officers gathered information about 33 Indian SIM cards from New Delhi and West Bengal smuggled through Kashmir, but they were unable to put the jigsaw puzzle in place. The cards were used by Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists during the Mumbai strikes a month later.

Swimming, sailing
The 10 trained commandos, including 21-year-old Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, were stationed at Karachi after an attack on Mumbai on September 27, 2008 was deferred. Meanwhile, they practised steering speedboats at sea. Mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman and Kafa took the LeT terrorists to a camp at Muridke where they practised using AK 47s, handguns and throwing grenades. At the camp, they were made to swim and get acquainted with the sea, Qasab later told Indian investigators after his arrest on 26/11.

What their day was like
Their morning started with namaz, followed with physical training imparted by Abu Mawiya.

The group was at the firing range for the next three hours. They were also taught to use communication equipment and satellite phones.

Studying Mumbai
After dinner, the killer squad was regularly shown the site Google Earth where they studied information about Azad Maidan, the landing spot at Budwar Park in Cuffe Parade and the route leading to Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba. They also learnt more about Nariman House.

Qasab and Abu Ismail were given the code name VTS team, after they were shown CST railway station (formerly VT). There were details of commuters moving around during rush hour.

Presently, Police Commissioner D Sivanandhan says things have moved ahead. The state is sanctioning Rs 197 crore to modernise the police force. And this is addition to the Rs 36 spent on buying arms so far.

The terrorists were also provided with minute details of potential targets by Sabauddin Ahmad alias Saba alias Farhan and his key associate Fahim Ansari alias Abu Zarar alias Sahil Pavaskar, a resident from Goregaon (west).

In Mumbai, warnings over an imminent attack was getting louder. Dozens of intelligence reports were circulated amongst bureaucrats and state police weeks before the city was taken by surprise.
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'We are prepared': Sivanandhan
According to Commissioner of Police D Sivanandhan things have move ahead. The government is sanctioning Rs 197 crore on modernisation of the police and this is addition to the Rs 36 spent on buying arms so far.

Sivanandhan added that more than anything the morale is high. We now have a force which is willing to go and fight. More than 1,000 commaondos have been trained and armed with the best
weapons. The 'Force One' commando team is ready and a National Security Guard hub is already in Mumbai.

"Certainly, we are prepared to face any challenge," remarked Sivanandhan.