Abu Qama, Zarar Shah's real identities revealed

The probe into Mumbai terror attacks has led investigating agencies to ascertain the real identity of wanted Lashkar-e-Tayiba militants Abu Al Qama and Zarar Shah, who turned out to be residents of Pakistan.

Investigations have revealed that Mazhar Iqbal, a resident of Mandi Tehsil of Punjab province, was code-named as Abu Al Qama by the Lashkar, official sources said on Wednesday. This finding was a result of an increased cooperation between central security agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The two agencies carried out detailed interrogation of Lashkar terrorists arrested worldwide to know the identity of Abu Al Qama. The other Lashkar terrorist identified by

the security agencies was Zarar Shah whose actual name was Abdul Wajid, a resident of Sheikhpura district of Punjab province, the sources said.

About the role of the two in Mumbai terror strikes, the sources said Iqbal alias Abu Al Qama had been responsible for training the terrorists who carried out the strikes in Mumbai on November 26 in which lives of 183 people were lost.

Besides having other aliases like Amjad, Iqbal is wanted in other high-profile cases including Red Fort encounter, attack on Akshardham temple in Gujarat and serial bombing on the eve of Diwali in 2005 in the national capital.

Iqbal is in charge of Lashkar operations in India except Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said.