logo
How Tahawwur Rana helped identify key targets of 26/11 attack: ‘Lashkar functioned more as spy network'

How Tahawwur Rana helped identify key targets of 26/11 attack: ‘Lashkar functioned more as spy network'

Mint10 hours ago
One of the conspirators of the 26/11 attack, Tahawwur Rana, revealed details of how he helped orchestrate the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 that left over 160 people dead.
Sources in the Mumbai Police crime branch told NDTV that during the interrogation, Rana shared how he helped David Coleman Headley, the mastermind of the attacks, identify key targets of attack.
In April this year, the US extradited 'convicted terrorist' Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
According to NDTV sources, Rana said that he completed an MBBS course in 1986 from the Army Medical College in Pakistan's Rawalpindi and was commissioned as a Captain doctor in the Pakistani Army in Quetta.
He was posted in sensitive regions such as Sindh, Balochistan, Bahawalpur, and Siachen-Balotra, the report added.
During the time in Siachen, Rana reportedly developed pulmonary edema, which led to his absence from duty. He was then declared a deserter. 'Pulmonary edema' is an abnormal condition that causes a fluid buildup in the lungs.
Rana had earlier said that he had agreed to be part of the terror plot because David Headley had assured that he would help clean Rana's records.
Rana further informed that Headley had attended three Lashkar-e-Taiba training camps between 2003 and 2004. The terrorists quoted Headley as telling him that Lashkar functioned more as a spy network than an ideological outfit, NDTV reported.
Rana had reportedly visited India in November 2008, days before the terror attack. He had stayed at a hotel in Mumbai's Powai on the 20th and 21st. Just before the strike, he left for Beijing via Dubai.
According to a 405-page supplementary chargesheet filed by the crime branch in 2023, Rana helped Headley collect information about crowded locations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
As many as 14 witnesses confirmed his role.
Rana blamed the Indian Embassy when asked about forged Indian documents that aided the terrorists, NDTV reported.
The investigation, however, revealed that Rana helped Headley enter India using false documents.
Rana reportedly admitted to knowing Pakistani officials Sajid Mir, Abdul Rehman Pasha, and Major Iqbal, all accused of planning the attacks.
He is learned to have actively coordinated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Pakistani spy agency ISI.
Between November 26 and 29, 2008, 10 LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks in Mumbai.
'They infiltrated the city by sea and then broke into teams, dispersing to multiple locations,' the White House said earlier.
Attackers at a train station fired guns and threw grenades into crowds. Attackers at two restaurants shot indiscriminately at patrons. Attackers at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel gunned people down and detonated explosives. They also shot and killed people at a Jewish community center.
After the attacks were complete, Rana allegedly told Headley that the Indians 'deserved it.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

India will give a ‘new form' to BRICS grouping in 2026: PM Modi
India will give a ‘new form' to BRICS grouping in 2026: PM Modi

The Hindu

time22 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

India will give a ‘new form' to BRICS grouping in 2026: PM Modi

India will attempt to give a 'new form' to the BRICS next year, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his intervention at the grouping's summit in Rio De Janeiro on Monday (July 7, 2025), as the Indian side prepared to take over the leadership of BRICS from current president Brazil. 'Under India's BRICS presidency, we will work to define BRICS in a new form. BRICS will mean Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability. Just as, during our G-20 chairmanship, we gave priority to the issues of the Global South in the agenda, similarly during our chairmanship of BRICS, we will take this forum forward in the spirit of people-centricity and humanity first,' said Mr. Modi speaking at the session on Environment, COP 30 and Global Health. Also Read: PM Modi at BRICS in Brazil LIVE updates on July 7, 2025 Mr. Modi dealt with a number of topics, including the post-pandemic recovery of the global economy and sought global cooperation in combating common threats and said, 'The COVID pandemic taught us that viruses do not come taking visas, and solutions, too are not chosen by looking at passports. The solution to common challenges is possible only through joint efforts.' Earlier, talking at a segment of the BRICS summit in Rio De Janeiro, Mr. Modi shared the Indian position on Artificial Intelligence and said, 'We in India believe in AI as a tool to enhance human values and capabilities. Guided by the mantra of 'AI for All', India is actively using AI in many sectors. We believe that AI governance, addressing concerns and encouraging innovation should both receive equal priority.' Mr. Modi also held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. Among those who met the Indian Prime Minister were President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez of Cuba, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, President Yamandu Orsi of Uruguay and President of Bolivia Luis Alberto Arce Catacora. 'We talked about the need for improving and diversifying trade linkages on a priority basis. We discussed how we can collaborate in sectors such as digital technology, critical minerals, healthcare, space and more. Also conveyed my best wishes on the historic occasion of Bolivia's 200 years of Independence,' said Mr. Modi. Mr. Modl's participation in the closing day of the 17th BRICS summit will be followed by a state visit to Brazil that is scheduled to begin on 8 July at the Alvorado Palace. During his stay in Brasilia, Mr. Modi will hold restricted and delegation-level talks and attend a lunch hosted by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. India and Brazil are expected to sign agreements following official talks.

Operation Sindoor: India used special technique to fool Pakistan, US fighter pilot makes stunning revelations
Operation Sindoor: India used special technique to fool Pakistan, US fighter pilot makes stunning revelations

India.com

time37 minutes ago

  • India.com

Operation Sindoor: India used special technique to fool Pakistan, US fighter pilot makes stunning revelations

New Delhi: During Operation Sindoor, India deceived Pakistan in such a way that all its secrets were revealed. This operation brought out the advanced electronic warfare (EW) strategies of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to the world. Former American pilot Ryan Bodenheimer described the IAF's strategies as 'the best spoofing and deception ever'. He attributed this success to the X-Guard jamming decoy and SPECTRA EW suite of the Rafale jet, which deceived Pakistan's PL-15E missiles. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor began on 7 May 2025, when the Indian Air Force responded to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which 26 civilians were killed. In this operation, the IAF targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30 MKI and Mirage 2000 jets carried out precision strikes using SCALP cruise missiles and Spice-2000 bombs, without leaving Indian airspace. Pakistan claimed that it shot down five Indian jets, including three Rafales. But Indian sources and international experts rejected these claims, saying that these were destroyed decoys (X-Guards) and not real Rafale jets. In this operation, the IAF's electronic warfare techniques completely confused the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). X-Guard Jamming Decoy: Technical Details X-Guard is an Israeli-made fiber-optic towed decoy, which is integrated with the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite of Rafale jets. This 30 kg device is pulled by a wire behind the Rafale jet. It is designed to deceive enemy radars and missiles. X-Guard sends jamming signals in a radius of 360 degrees, which confuses enemy radars and active seekers of missiles. It fakes the radar signature, making it look like a real jet. X-Guard uses artificial intelligence (AI), which copies the Doppler shift and signature of the radar signal. It keeps changing the signal in real-time to confuse enemy radars, causing missiles to target the decoy instead of the real jet. The X-Guard uses Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology, which records and manipulates enemy radar signals. It creates false targets, thereby misleading enemy radar and missile systems. The X-Guard protects against both air-to-air missiles (such as the PL-15E) and surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). It keeps the Rafale out of the missiles' no-escape zone (where it is difficult to avoid the missile). The X-Guard weighs only 30 kg, making it lightweight and efficient. It is connected to the jet via a fibre-optic cable, which keeps it stable even at high speeds.

e-PAN card fraud alert! Received email prompting PAN Card download? Check important message from Income Tax Department
e-PAN card fraud alert! Received email prompting PAN Card download? Check important message from Income Tax Department

Time of India

time37 minutes ago

  • Time of India

e-PAN card fraud alert! Received email prompting PAN Card download? Check important message from Income Tax Department

NEW DELHI: Have you received an email asking you to download your e-PAN card? If yes, you are advised to ignore it. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has issued a warning against such messages, confirming that they are fake. ⚠️ This Email is #Fake, PIB Fact Check said in an advisory shared on social media, along with a screenshot of one such phishing email. The fraudulent message, titled 'Download e-PAN Card Online: A step-by-step guide', comes from an unauthorised address and is designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links. According to the advisory, users must not respond to any emails, links, calls, or SMS that request financial or personal information such as bank details, PIN numbers, or passwords. The Income Tax Department clarified that: It does not request personal details through email. It never asks for PINs, passwords or credit card information via messages. Users should be cautious of emails that direct them to fake IT department websites. Phishing emails typically pretend to be from authorised institutions and may contain links or attachments that can infect your computer. The department has outlined the following safety guidelines: Do not reply to such emails. Do not open any attachments. Do not click on suspicious links, or copy-paste them into your browser. Keep your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software updated to guard against malware. If you suspect an email or website to be fraudulent: Forward it to webmanager@ Also send a copy to incident@ You can forward the entire message or include its Internet headers to help track the sender. Delete the email after reporting. What is phishing? Phishing is a fraudulent practice used to steal sensitive information like usernames, passwords, and credit card details by posing as a legitimate and trusted source in digital communications. Cybercriminals often impersonate banks, popular social media platforms, e-commerce sites, online payment services, or IT administrators to deceive recipients. These deceptive messages—usually sent via email or instant messaging—often direct users to fake websites that closely mimic the appearance of genuine ones, tricking them into entering confidential information. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store