GPS switched on in Pakistani waters, says Maria

Rubbishing Pakistani Navy chief Admiral Noman Bashir's claim that 26/11 terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab and his associates did not use sea route to reach Mumbai, city Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria said Global Positioning System (GPS) device used by the terrorists was switched on in Pakistani waters.

GPS switched on in Pakistani waters, says Maria

"Global Positioning System was switched on in the Pakistani waters," Rakesh Maria said when asked if Pakistan Naval Chief's claim was correct. Maria did not elaborate on it.

According to the police investigations, the 10 terrorists used Pakistani vessel MV Al Husseni before they shifted to an Indian fishing trawler Kuber.

Maria said that 30 witnesses identified Qasab, the lone surviving terrorist, during the identification parade held some time back.

"During the identification parade, 30 witnesses have identified Qasab who was caught alive during the attacks. Twenty-nine witnesses have identified seven bodies of the terrorists while two bodies could not be identified as they were completely charred," Maria said.

He did not say when and where the Identification Parade was conducted, but it was reportedly conducted in the Arthur Road Jail.

Four persons had identified Fahim Ansari, who had been arrested along with his associate Sabauddin Ahmed in January last year by Uttar Pradesh police in connection with the CRPF camp attacks there.

The voluminous 11,280-page chargesheet mentions in all 47 names including nine dead terrorists and two Indian nationals Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed. It mentions that there are 2202 witnesses in the case.

"About 1000 are expected to depose in the court during the trail in the Mumbai attacks," Maria said. "In the 1993 blasts case of total 1200 witnesses about 600 to 700 had deposed in the court during the trial," he added.

Maria said Major General Saab, who is among the 35 wanted accused named in the chargesheet, had motivated the terrorists. "He had also directed terrorists from where firing should be done and where the explosives should be thrown while the operation was on."

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