'26/11 terrorists were told to look for ministers as hostages'

The 26/11 terrorists were instructed on mobile phones by their Pakistani handlers to look for ministers and VIPs at the Hotel Taj here and take them as hostages before setting rooms on fire.

The 26/11 terrorists were instructed on mobile phones by their Pakistani handlers to look for ministers and VIPs at the Hotel Taj here and take them as hostages before setting rooms on fire.

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This was revealed today in the court through CDs of four telephonic conversations between terrorists and their Pakistan handlers.

The talks had been recorded by police while intercepting the conversation between the terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam informed the court.

A terrorist was told by the person on the other line of conversation to inform the families of the hostages at Hotel Taj that they should request the army to stop the operation if they wanted to see their loved ones alive.

In another conversation, a terrorist was asked why they had not sunk Kuber boat (through which they came to Mumbai from Pakistan). The terrorist replied that they had no time and also another vessel approached them and they thought it was Navy who was chasing them.

It is the case of police that the Pakistan handlers were watching television and instructing the terrorists who had laid siege at Hotel Taj and Oberoi for more than two days.