The sole Mumbai gunman to be captured alive has claimed that his father
introduced him to the Pakistan-based militant group suspected to be behind
last week's bloody attacks in exchange for cash.
Azam Amir Kasab, 21, a Pakistani national from the Punjab region, said that
his father, Amir, introduced him to a commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a
well-known terrorist faction, according to a leaked account of his
interrogation. The commander, known as "chacha" (uncle), paid the
father.
Kasab said he was previously a labourer and came from a poor family.
Security experts say that payment is one of three main recruitment tools used
by Islamist extremists. The other two are the madrassas, or Islamic
seminaries, scattered across Pakistan, and threats of violence, often made
to the families of those being recruited.
However, they add that it is too early to make definitive conclusions of the
background of Kasab and his cohort. It is thought that as many as 15 Indian
officials are sitting in on the militant's interrogation, and many are
leaking their interpretations of his responses to the media.
Others are speculating that the fact that Kasab apparently speaks fluent
English indicates he is probably from Pakistan's relatively wealthy middle
classes.
It is thought he may be what experts term a "high quality" militant
– a well educated person, not from an Islamic seminary, who would be
unlikely to be in serious financial trouble and vulnerable to bribes.
Experts also believe it is unlikely that a recruit who had been coerced would
be sent on an attack of the scale of Mumbai.
"They would not send somebody who would compromise the mission," Dr
Lakshman, of the Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management, said
Indian officials remain convinced that the attack on Mumbai bears the hallmark
of Lashkar-e-Toiba, which was believed to be behind a 2001 attack on the
Indian Parliament, where terrorists stormed the building with guns and
grenades, taking hostages as part of a suicidal mission.
They also believe that Lashkar-e-Toiba does not act without the sanction of
some part of the Pakistan government – although how far up the chain is a
matter of intense debate.
Officials are also concerned that five terrorist gunmen might have escaped the
carnage and could strike again.
Security forces claimed that only ten militants – nine of whom were killed and
one caught alive – were behind the coordinated attacks that claimed nearly
200 lives. Rakesh Maria, a joint commissioner of police, said: “Their plan
was just to cause maximum damage and return with hostages protecting
themselves.”
However, a hijacked Indian fishing boat used by the gunmen had equipment for
15 men on board when it was discovered adrift – suggesting that several
gunmen could still be at large. “Fifteen winter jackets were found, fifteen
toothbrushes,” a police source said. “That more terrorists are loose is
possible.”
The prospect of more killers added to public anger at the Indian Government’s
lax handling of the worst terror strike to hit the country in 15 years.
