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26/11 attack: FBI officials visit ground zero
A team of officers from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday revisited ground zero of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Presley Thomas reports.
A team of officers from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday revisited ground zero of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.
The team visited hotel Taj, Oberoi, Leopold Café and Rang Bhavan — the place where three senior police officers were killed — to reconstruct the attack.
Two officials visited the Mumbai Commissioner’s office at Crawford Market and briefed Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Rakesh Maria, who is heading the investigation.
Sources said, “The FBI revisited the places to incorporate the attack in the final report which would be filed in the US.”
The FBI is also keen to work out the modalities to help its officials depose before the trial court, which would conduct a trial against the sole surviving Pakistani gunman Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and two Indian Lashkar-e-Tayyaba operators Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed.
Sources said: “Because the trial would be stretched over a period of time and would necessitate the presence of FBI officials on more than one occasion, the FBI has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to help them depose via the video-conferencing method. “Modalities of which would be worked out soon,” said sources.
Considering the FBI’s proposal for video-conferencing sources said, “The Crime Branch is soon scheduled to file an application before the trial court.”
