LeT man says 25 more are hiding in country

The police has learnt that 25 LeT operatives trained in Pakistan along with the arrested Zia Ul Haq were holed up in several parts of the country, including the city.

Haq, who was planning attacks in key spots in the city, was arrested by the police and counter intelligence sleuths on Monday.

“I was told by the police that 25 of these terrorists are operating in different parts of the country,” said the home minister, Ms P. Sabita Indra Reddy. “We could nab one of them.”

The police found that Haq was planning to target places frequented by foreigners in the city such as the Iskcon temple in Abids, Secunderabad, IT firms in Hitec City and Charminar.

He was working with Dot Cabs and Pushpak Travels as a driver.

“He was using his alias of Jani and was in touch with his LeT handler Abdul Aziz through email,” said an intelligence official. “He was using cybercafés to chat with his handler.”

Terror Trail

Haq infiltrated into India through the Poonch sector

* Haq was planning strikes in IT firms, Ickcon temple, Charminar.
* Police said Haq was planning to target places frequented by foreigners in the city.
* He worked for Dot cabs and Pushpak travels as driver.
* Was in touch with his LeT handler Abdul Aziz through email.
* Took the terror path after hearing a discourse in Saudi Arabia.

“We could nab one of the 25 terrorists” — Sabita Reddy

26/11: Pak court fixes March 6 for next hearing

The anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi also reportedly issued notices asking some prosecution witnesses to be present at the next hearing

A Pakistani court conducting the trial of seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with planning and facilitating the Mumbai attacks on Monday scheduled the next hearing of the case for March 6.

Sources said Monday’s hearing was a mere formality as the last hearing, scheduled for February 27, was not held as it coincided with the holiday marking Prophet Muhammad’s birth.

“The judge scheduled the next hearing for March 6,” Shahbaz Rajput, a lawyer representing some of the accused, said.

Sources said the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi also issued notices asking some prosecution witnesses to be present at the next hearing.

The trial is being conducted by judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan within the heavily guarded Adiala Jail for security reasons.

The seven accused — Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum — are being held in the same prison.

They were last year formally charged with planning and helping execute the assault on India’s financial hub in November 2008 that killed nearly 166 people.