Key suspect in 26/11 terror attacks held

New Delhi: An Indian national alleged to be one of the key handlers of the 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who were involved in the killing of 166 people in Mumbai in November 2008 has been brought to New Delhi from Saudi Arabia last week, government officials said. Syed Zabiuddin Jabi is the first Indian national to be held for direct links with the Mumbai terror attacks.

Zabiuddin, alias Abu Jindal, who was handed over to the Delhi Police, was facing an Interpol red corner notice since 2006 for possession and transport of large quantities of sophisticated arms and ammunition in Aurangabad. He is also suspected to be involved in many terrorist incidents in various parts of the country.

“Jabi has admitted to have worked with Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. He was present in the Karachi control room from where he was passing instructions to terrorists in India,” said an official in the Union home ministry on condition of anonymity.

“In his interrogation, he has told us a name of an accused who we believe is an official of Pakistan’s spy agency—Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His voice is now being matched with those intercepted during the 26/11 Mumbai operations. Agencies like the NIA and others will take him on remand for further questioning,” the official said.

A high-ranking official in the NIA said Jabi had not figured in their investigation.

“Some part of the investigations are carried out by the Mumbai Police. We do not have much information on him,” the official said.

In Mumbai, P.S. Rathod, additional chief metropolitan magistrate, issued a production warrant against him at the request of special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and 26/11 case investigating officer Ramesh Mahale.

Nikam told the court that Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving 26/11 terrorist, had in his confession said Jabi taught them Hindi and interacted with them on telephone from Karachi during the attack.

Nikam pleaded that there was sufficient evidence against Jindal in the 26/11 case and sought his custody for interrogation.

In Delhi, Chidambaram said, “Syed Zabiuddin we believe is a person who goes by the pseudonym Abu Jindal. He has been apprehended and has been remanded to the custody of law enforcing agencies.”

External affairs minister S.M. Krishna said he will wait for an investigation report from the Delhi Police before taking the matter up with Pakistan.

PTI contributed to this story.

sahil.m@livemint.com