Pakistan based terrorist organisation viz. Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is now known as Makaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad [3]
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were carried out at seven places across Mumbai, India, on 26 November 2008.[3] 175 people were killed and 291 were injured in these attacks.[4]26/11 attacks
Mumbai City (mainly south Mumbai area) came under heavy terrorist attacks on 26 November 2008, from 2120 hrs.[7] The attack started when two heavily-armed terrorists opened fire and threw grenades on the public and police inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station. After that they threw grenades at BMC Office and moved to Cama Hospital. Terrorists tried to take some hostages in the hospital. They came out on the main road where they shot dead the ATS chief, HemantKarkare and other police officials, who were coming in a Toyota Qualis vehicle.[3] Two terrorists tried to escape but faced cross fire from police. The police injured and captured one terrorist. The other died near Metro Cinema.
Another group of terrorists opened fire on occupants of Leopold Cafe, Colaba (at a distance of 2.5 km from CST). They took some hostages including a Jewish couple.[8] Later, the group holed itself up inside Nariman House after taking hostages while another group forced themselves inside the lobby of Hotel Taj (at 0.5 km from Nariman House). They threw grenades and fired on the people inside the hotel lobby. Later, they moved onto the third floor and took some hostages including foreigners. They tried to blast the dome of the hotel and set the hotel on fire through grenade blast. Yet another group of terrorists entered into the lobby of Hotel Trident Oberai (at 1.5 km from CST) and started indiscriminate firing at different locations such as pool side/upper floors and took hostages. Two taxis carrying explosives exploded and killed the drivers and inmates in WadiBunder and Vile Parle area.[9]
In a major operation, the National Security Guards neutralized all the terrorists holed up in Taj Hotel, Oberoi-Trident and Nariman House, Mumbai. They completed the sanitization of Nariman House and Oberoi-Trident Hotel on November 29, 2008, Hotel Taj on early morning of November 30.
In the attack, 175 persons were killed (Police-18, Public-122, Foreigners-26 and terrorists-9) and 291 were injured (Police-25,Public-243 Foreigners-22 and terrorist-1).[10]
The multiple terrorist attacks in Mumbai were launched from Karachi from where a group of 10 Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT) fidayeens (all Pakistanis) equipped with arms/ammunition had sailed off on November 23,2008.[11][12]
A new militant outfit called Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack.[13] Investigations have revealed that the sender of the email was connected to Zarrar Shah Communication,[14] Coordinator of LeT based in Pakistan. One of the perpetrators namely Ajmal belonging to district Okara of Pakistan, who was captured, revealed in his interrogation his LeT connections and other details about the attack. According to him, the operation was planned by Zaki-ur-Rehman of LeT.
Nine terrorists killed in the operations by the security forces in Mumbai were identified by Ajmal as his fidayeen associates from LeT.[15]
Conviction of Mohd Amir Mohd Ajmal Kasab and death penalty
The Special Court, Mumbai convicted Mohd Amir Mohd Ajmal Kasab (case no. 175/2009) and awarded him a death sentence on May 6, 2010.[16]Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court of India upheld the death penalty. The President of India rejected the mercy petition of Ajmal Kasab. Ajmal Kasab was hanged on November 21,2012 at 7:30 am at Yerwada jail, Pune.[17]
Acquittal of Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin
In the same case, the trial court acquitted two Indian accused viz. Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin with benefit of the doubt on May 3, 2010. Prosecution challenged the acquittal of both co-accused, before the Supreme Court.[18]
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