Kasab got commando-style training by LeT

New Delhi: The question many are asking is how a handful of terrorists could hold a city to ransom for 60 hours. The answer lies in the commando-style intense training imparted to them.

CCTV images of Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab just hours before he began firing at commuters waiting at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus have done the rounds in the media. The efficiency with which he and his associates wielded their weapons was the result of several months of rigorous training.

It began with a 21 day session called daura sufa, which tested the religious inclinations and physical abilities of the recruits.

Their day began at 4 am and stretched till 9 pm. The recruits read the namaz, attended lectures on Hadis and Quran under the eyes of Laskhar-e-Toiba's (LeT) Maulana Mufti Sayyed. Light physical training sessions and games commanded by LeT instructer Fadulla followed thereafter.

A good performer, Kasab was promoted for the next level. He was among the 32 who took advanced training at a camp near Manshera. It was in this third level of training that Kasab received weapons training. Their trainer was Abdul Rehman. Kasab learnt how to use the AK47, Green O, SKS and an Uzi sub-machine gun.

However, Kasab wanted more. He agreed to do khidmat for two months, a service as per the likings of the camp trainers. He told the Mumbai Crime Branch that he took a month long break, went back to Faridkot to meet his parents and then returned to LeT.

This time he was taken to leT camps at Shaiwainala, Muzzafarabad for advanced training. It included indoctrination against India, handling of hand grenades, rocket launchers and mortars.

It was then that top LeT commander of Zakiur Rehman took charge of 16 out of 32 trainees specially handpicked by Lakhvi, Kasab amongst them. He took them to the Muridke base camp of the LeT.

On September 15, 2008 Zakiur Rehman selected 10 boys including Kasab and formed five teams for the 26/11 attacks. From here on, the team was issued specific instructions.

Each team had a code name. Kasab and his partner Ismail Khan were 'team VTS'.

They were shown Google Earth and made to memorise details of where to get down at Mumbai.

They were shown a film on V T railway station and were instructed to kill during rush hours. They were also instructed to kidnap some persons.

After this, they were to contact Zakiur Rehman, following which Lakhvi would give them telephone numbers of the electronic media so he could negotiate demands for releasing hostages.

Thus ended Kasab's training with the LeT. Before the final goodbyes Zakiur Rehman asked Kasab what his last wish was. Kasab said it was Rs 1.5 lakh for his family in lieu of his sacrifice.

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