Was Abu Jindal the local link in 26/11 attack?

Abu Hamza is without doubt a Pakistani national who was one of the voices who guided 26/11 attack. Now with Home Minister P Chidambaram giving him another alias of Abu Jundal alias Jindal, it confuses the case even further, and nothing can be said with certainty who exactly is the man they have with them. Vicky Nanjappa reports.

Post 26/11, a less explored path was that of a role played by an Indian operative hailing from Maharashtra, and claimed to have made calls from North Wazirstan in Pakistan. His name surfaced during the German Bakery blasts at Pune.

However, the primary focus regarding Abu Jundal, and his role in the 26/11 attack came to light only in 2010.

While there was a considerable amount of talk regarding this person, his name never reached the chargesheet filed by the Anti-Terrorism Squad.

Then, the Intelligence Bureau had said that this man, who also goes by the alias Syed Zabiuddin Ansari could have been in the control room which guided the attackers. The doubt was because of the use of Hindi words during the attack.

He not only guided the attack at the Nariman House, but constantly told Imran Babar, the attacker, to call the media and speak about the Indian government's 'apathy' towards Muslims.

The voice also told the attackers to convey through the media that India should release all Lashkar-e-Tayiba operatives from jails and to snap all ties with Israel.

While there was not much in the chargesheet about him, the next time his name came into the limelight was during the 2010 German bakery blast in Pune.

While proclaiming that he was behind this attack, Jundal also claimed that he was calling from Pakistan on behalf of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba al-Almi, a Pakistan-based outfit.

He had claimed that this new outfit had broken away from the mainstream Lashkar and was under the Inter-Services Intelligence. Yet again, that could not be verified.

Now the question as to whether Hamza and Jundal are two different persons. The answer is yes. The voice samples are under examination to ascertain who exactly this person is.

In case the police can confirm that the Hindi speaking man is Jundal then it will be the first arrest (Sabhauddin and Fahim Nasari were acquitted) of an Indian in the 26/11 attack. Moreover, it would solve the big mystery of the local link in the attack.