26/11 phone trail points to local links

[seedhi]

I am feeling sick after reading this article.

26/11 phone trail points to local links Ten days after home minister P Chidambaram said that there was no local help guiding the terrorists during the November 26 attacks, the log of phone calls made by the handlers of the attackers to numerous phones in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik before, during and after the attacks suggests that there were local contacts. None of the people who took those calls have been identified, let alone investigated. The calls were made from the Voice over Internet Protocol (Internet telephony by which calls can be made to any part of the world by connecting to a computer) phone used by the accomplices of the attackers said to be based in Pakistan. The details of the call logs turn up in the report submitted by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), which helped in the probe, to the Mumbai crime branch. The FBI report, a copy of which is with HT, is part of the chargesheet filed in the court trying the 26/11 case. It is the first time an FBI report has been submitted as evidence in an Indian court.“We’d asked the FBI if there were any local numbers reflected in those logs. They never told us,” said crime branch chief Rakesh Maria. “We sent an email to Joseph Persichini Jr, the assistant director of the FBI, and asked if the agency had specifically alerted the crime branch about these calls, and whether the calls conclusively proved complicity in India. We have not yet received a response.” The chargesheet says accomplices of the 10 attackers used 30 VoIP connections to provide “instructional and motivational” help to them. An analysis of the calls revealed 23 mobile phones and 12 landline phones were called from those VoIP numbers. Between November 23 and 28, 91 calls were made. In all, they lasted 51 minutes (see call logs on p2). The first call recorded was to a Delhi landline number. The call lasted a minute-and-a-half early on November 23, three days before the attack. A couple of hours later three calls were made to a Mumbai phone number. It went on for nearly two minutes. The next day, November 24, 15 calls were made to 11 mobile phones in less than an hour. We checked out some of the numbers called. At 8.12am on November 25, for instance, a 109-second-long call was made to the office of the Post Master, Nashik Road. Post office staff said the opening time is 10am. “No one has made enquiries,” a post office official said. Another 104-second-long call was made to the office of a firm selling TVs in Pune — at 7.33 am on November 25. Youths at the office located in a residential building refused to answer any queries when this reporter visited them. During the 60-hour attack and siege, a Mumbai mobile number was called several times from the VoIP connection. Each time after this local number was called, the attackers were contacted in each of the locations — the Taj Hotel, the Trident and Nariman House

Seems like our govt run by sell outs, who wil cover up the truth just so that the sentiments of a community is not hurt. F***K the Mumbai Police. F***K the Maharashtra govt who covered up the whole matter and labeled whoever raised the issue as communal instigators.

[Lurker]

Couple of initial thoughts: a) I would hate to make any serious discussion based on what HT suggests. I just find it hard to beleive that FBI wont give information to Mumbai Police but would give the entire call logs to HT. b) It is impossible to make such an attack without any local contacts. Whether these contacts were Mumbai underworld of Indian Jihadis is open to discussion.

[seedhi]

Couple of initial thoughts: a) I would hate to make any serious discussion based on what HT suggests. I just find it hard to beleive that FBI wont give information to Mumbai Police but would give the entire call logs to HT.

Please dont make excuses. The article clearly states that the FBI call log is with the Mumbai police and is attached with the chargesheet and the exact same information is with the HT. From the article:

The details of the call logs turn up in the report submitted by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), which helped in the probe, to the Mumbai crime branch. The FBI report, a copy of which is with HT, is part of the chargesheet filed in the court trying the 26/11 case. It is the first time an FBI report has been submitted as evidence in an Indian court.“We’d asked the FBI if there were any local numbers reflected in those logs. They never told us,†said crime branch chief Rakesh Maria.

The most astonishing part is when Mr Maria says that FBI didnt tell them that the numbers were local. Cant the police figure that much out when the details of the logs are in the report which they have? And how did the HT reporter figure it out then?

b) It is impossible to make such an attack without any local contacts. Whether these contacts were Mumbai underworld of Indian Jihadis is open to discussion.

Then why is our Home Minister lying through his teeth? Why was this information suppressed? Who suppressed it?

[seedhi]

This issue was raised by the BJP in January, when the govt said that there is no local involvement. Instead of thinking logically, the media started attacking the BJP itself. I remember Prakash Javadekar of the BJP saying that the police officers themselves admit privately that there was substantial local involvement. BJP was labeled communal and the media and the govt moved on. Now after 6 months who knows whether these local people would ever be caught. Another example of the incompetence of Maharashtra police is the complete shambles in which the 7/11 train blasts investigations have landed. It is shameful to say the least.

[The Outsider]

If these logs are indeed part of the court documents they are public documents and will come out in the open. And yes, an attack of this magnitude cannot be carried out without some local assistance.

[Lurker]

Please dont make excuses. The article clearly states that the FBI call log is with the Mumbai police and is attached with the chargesheet and the exact same information is with the HT. From the article:The most astonishing part is when Mr Maria says that FBI didnt tell them that the numbers were local. Cant the police figure that much out when the details of the logs are in the report which they have? And how did the HT reporter figure it out then?

I dont need to make any excuses for Mumbai Police. I would give more weightage to Rakesh Maria than HT. Anyone who has followed Rakesh Maria, specially those who have followed '92 blast, will tell you about the man. This of course does not mean he is infallible, simply that I give him more credit than what I would give to a HT journalist.

Then why is our Home Minister lying through his teeth? Why was this information suppressed? Who suppressed it?

It would have been better if HT had provided a link to what Chidambaram had said. As for suppression of this info, is this really suppression at all?? I mean who does not realize that Mumbai attackers were constantly on phone and receiving information via their handlers who in turn must have had some eyes on ground? xx

[seedhi]

If these logs are indeed part of the court documents they are public documents and will come out in the open. And yes' date=' an attack of this magnitude cannot be carried out without some local assistance.[/quote']If so, then why are the local conspirators not named in the chargesheet? The chargesheets name 30 odd people operating in Pakistan but not one of the locals involved during the attacks (except for two who were lodged in a UP jail). By the way do you know that Fahim Ansari had confessed about an imminent attack on prominent Mumbai locations to the UP police in February 2008? Maps of the Taj Hotel were recovered from him. The UP police asked the Maharashtra police to interrogate Ansari in March 2008. Yet, the Maharashtra police DID NOT send anyone to interrogate Ansari till after 26/11. Such incompetence is utterly mind boggling. And now this.

[seedhi]

I dont need to make any excuses for Mumbai Police. I would give more weightage to Rakesh Maria than HT. Anyone who has followed Rakesh Maria' date=' specially those who have followed '92 blast, will tell you about the man. This of course does not mean he is infallible, simply that I give him more credit than what I would give to a HT journalist. [/quote']It was widely reported that when the initial report was being prepared in December to be sent to Pakistan, around 15 Indian names were to be included as local supporters of the attack. But at the last moment (certainly due to political pressure), all Indian names except Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin (lodged in UP jails and who made maps) were deleted. So, the Mumbai police was never unaware of local involvement and here Mr Maria wants to blame the FBI for not spoonfeeding them.

As for suppression of this info, is this really suppression at all?? I mean who does not realize that Mumbai attackers were constantly on phone and receiving information via their handlers who in turn must have had some eyes on ground? xx

The Maharashtra govt, the UPA govt, all denied or atleast feigned ignorance of local hands. A massive coverup has occured and the local conspirators have been allowed to escape. Or else this is a monumental goof up by the police.

[Lurker]

By the way do you know that Fahim Ansari had confessed about an imminent attack on prominent Mumbai locations to the UP police in February 2008? Maps of the Taj Hotel were recovered from him. The UP police asked the Maharashtra police to interrogate Ansari in March 2008. Yet' date= the Maharashtra police DID NOT send anyone to interrogate Ansari till after 26/11. Such incompetence is utterly mind boggling. And now this.

This is not entirely true. Taj Hotel Management, including Ratan Tata, are on record suggesting they were warned of an attack and they had security measures in place only to pull them off later due to guest inconvinience. I remember Ratan Tata being constantly bombarded with this question. So its not that Mumbai Police did not inform Taj. Secondly regarding interrogating Fahim Ansari if I had to guess I would say it is because Mumbai Police were not comfortable sharing sensitive info with UP Police. Or it could simply be ineptitude. Kind of reminds me how Mumbai Police had a tip about 2 days earlier to '92 blasts that Air India building and other places would be attacked and simply laughed at it(Syed Hussain Zaidi captures it brilliantly in the book Black Friday). xxx

[seedhi]

This is not entirely true. Taj Hotel Management, including Ratan Tata, are on record suggesting they were warned of an attack and they had security measures in place only to pull them off later due to guest inconvinience. I remember Ratan Tata being constantly bombarded with this question. So its not that Mumbai Police did not inform Taj.

Yes, there were multiple warnings. RAW had sent one in September. Which all the more makes the incompetence of the police clear.

Secondly regarding interrogating Fahim Ansari if I had to guess I would say it is because Mumbai Police were not comfortable sharing sensitive info with UP Police.

Are you kidding me man? The police could have had Ansari transported to Mumbai if they wanted.

Or it could simply be ineptitude. Kind of reminds me how Mumbai Police had a tip about 2 days earlier to '92 blasts that Air India building and other places would be attacked and simply laughed at it(Syed Hussain Zaidi captures it brilliantly in the book Black Friday). xxx

Yes it was ineptitude, incompetence whatever you may call it. But this suppression of local link is deliberate. I refuse to believe that 30 odd people in Pakistan can be named in the chargesheet and yet none of the Indians active during the attacks are identified or apprehended or named in the chargesheet. It is incomprehensible.

[Lurker]

Yes, there were multiple warnings. RAW had sent one in September. Which all the more makes the incompetence of the police clear.Are you kidding me man? The police could have had Ansari transported to Mumbai if they wanted.

It does not work that way. There has been instance of State X cops picking miscreants without telling local police and all hell breaks lose. However as I had mentioned earlier this could simply be ineptitude, which incidentally I beleive in lot more. Afterall in the 26/11 trials it is fairly evident that Mumbai cops came across as lame and inept.

I refuse to believe that 30 odd people in Pakistan can be named in the chargesheet and yet none of the Indians active during the attacks are identified or apprehended or named in the chargesheet. It is incomprehensible.

No Indians named in the chargesheeet is definitely a good question. The big culprits obviously were Pakistanis (attackers, planners, handlers etc) but there had to be local support of sorts, specially for recce and informations. xx

[The Outsider]

Seedhi, I am not sure when and what the HM said in his statement but yes charges should have been brought in against the locals as well - I don't think you will hear two voices on that. Regarding the UP police information we always have all these things come out in hindsight and after the event. With our strained security and intelligence resources and the amount of information there will always be unexplored links and leads. Heck even the US had information about 9/11 in hindsight. The solution obviously lies in investing in a top notch no holds barred intelligence agency. I am sure at the end of the day it will end up costing our government less than the effects and after effects of the terrorist attacks. On an aside, 7 months have passed since the Mumbai attacks so maybe something is being implemented afterall.

[seedhi]

Seedhi' date=' I am not sure when and what the HM said in his statement but yes charges should have been brought in against the locals as well - I don't think you will hear two voices on that. [/quote']The HM is not even acknowledging the role of local conspirators. The Maharashtra HM has previously denied any local involvement in 26/11. This is a blatant lie, as the article posted shows. Everyone knows that there had to be a local hand during the attacks.