Mumbai City cops to seek Abu Jundal’s custody

Crime branch wants Kasab to identify 26/11 handler who trained the 10 attackers and actively participated in the strikes by instructing them over phone

Once Jundal’s custody is obtained, an attempt would be made for his identification by Kasab.
HIMAN SHUROY, joint commissioner of police, crime

MUMBAI: A team from the crime branch of the Mumbai police has been sent to New Delhi to seek the custody of Abu Jundal, 36, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks who is currently in the Delhi police’s custody.
Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police, crime, on Monday, said that the crime branch has obtained a production warrant from a metropolitan magistrate’s court to get the custody of Jundal, a Beed resident who is also wanted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with an arms haul case at Aurangabad in 2006.
“The warrant will be served in the Tees Hazari court in New Delhi from where Jundal’s custody will be sought,” said Roy, adding that the crime branch team is currently in the national capital.
Acting on an application moved by the crime branch, additional chief metropolitan magistrate PS Rathod issued the production warrant against Jundal on Monday.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam sought issuance of the warrant contending that Jundal had played a key role in the criminal conspiracy hatched in Pakistan in furtherance of which a group of 10 terrorists had come to Mumbai on November 26, 2008 from Karachi by sea, killed 166 people and injured 238.

Roy, meanwhile, said that Jundal was an important catch since his interrogation would establish the Pakistani origin of the Mumbai attacks beyond doubt. “It will also help expose the involvement of state actors from that country [Pakistan] in perpetrating the worst-ever terrorist carnage on Indian soil.”
Explaining the reason why Jundal’s custody is important to the Mumbai police, Roy said: “Jundal was not only involved in training the 10 attackers at the behest of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, but he had also actively participated in the attack by giving instructions to the attackers over the phone.”
“Once Jundal’s custody is obtained, an attempt would be made for his identification by Kasab. Though Jundal’s identification by Kasab would be of little legal significance, it will help in confirming his identity,” he said.
The joint commissioner stated that Jundal’s trial would be held separately in the special court. He will also be tried in the case filed by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, involving accused David Colemen Headley alias Dawood Gilani and Tahavuur Hussain Rana.

It may be recalled that Abu Jundal’s name had figured in the list of 35 wanted accused regarding whom a dossier was handed over to the Pakistan government. Interpol Red Corner Notices had been issued against all the accused.