Jundal came to know about 26/11 plot in Pakistan

Mumbai: Arrested LeT operative Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal has told interrogators that he had been briefed about the 26/11 terror strike four months in advance by the bosses of terror outfits in Pakistan where he went into hiding in 2006 and undergone terror training.

As Jundal had completed first year of MA (Hindi) course from KSK college in Beed, he was assigned the task of training the members of the 26/11 fidayen squad in that language so that the attackers would divert the attention of Indian security agencies by communicating in Hindi, a senior crime branch official said.

"In the month of August, a group including Jundal was informed by the LeT top members about the 26/11 operation. In the group, each one was given a different task (to handle).

Jundal was told to teach Hindi to the attackers," he said, adding six officers have been questioning the alleged 26/11 handler.

According to the official, Jundal, who has been allowed to observe roza (fast) during Ramadan, has been cooperating with investigators standing a barrage of questions posed by them.

The officials suspect that Jundal kept in touch with the Indian nationals staying in Pakistan as well as here before and after the dastardly strike that left 166 people dead.

Police said that Jundal's family members had been informed about his arrest.

The 30-year-old had even enrolled for Bachelor of Science (BSc) in IT in 2001 in Beed. Besides studies, he also used to work in an electrical shop there.

Apparently impressed by the ultra-conservative views of 'Ahl-e-Hadees', Jundal finally subscribed to the sect in 2003.

In 2005, Jundal started leaning towards terror activities after he came in contact with LeT commander Aslam Kashmiri, currently in custody of Delhi Police since his arrest in 2009, the official said.

Jundal met Kashmiri through Mohammed Amir Shakeel Ahmed, who is behind bars in connection with 2006 Aurangabad Arms haul case in Maharashtra, he said.

After the 2006 Aurangabad arms case, Jundal escaped to Nepal via Kolkata and from there flew to Pakistan, where he underwent trainings at LeT camps, on a fake passport, police said.

Jundal, who hails from Beed district, was arrested by Delhi Police in late June after being deported from Saudi Arabia. He was arrested by Mumbai Police on Saturday for his alleged complicity in the 26/11 terror attack case and was remanded in police custody till July 31 by a local court.