Mumbai: In a shocking revelation in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, it has been found that the top officials of Internal Security at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), who were in Pakistan for home secretary level talks on November 25, 2008, were made to extend their trips by a day, according to media reports.
As per The Times of India report, it has come to light that when a group of ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008, India’s top security officials including the then home secretary Madhukar Gupta were persuaded by the hosts Pakistan to extend their stay by one day to visit the hill station of Murree.
The report further stated that the MHA officials were taken to Murree where there was no network access, ensuring that there were no security officials on duty while the Pakistan-based terror group finished its task.
Former MHA official RVS Mani told that the reason offered by Pakistan behind the request to extend the stay was that the delegation should meet their interior minister, who was then travelling.
He further said that it was the absence of the top officials of the Internal Security at the MHA that led to a delay in the decision-making process.
"Those days, talks were taking place alternately in India and Pakistan. In 2006, it took place in Pakistan; in 2007, it took place in India at Le Meridien hotel in Delhi; while in 2008, it was to be held in Pakistan. November 25 was decided for the talks, following which an approach paper was prepared and cleared. Our delegation left on November 24. I was in Lucknow on November 25 for some court case. I remember that when I returned on November 26th, I came to know that their visit was extended by a day, and then what happened in the night of 26th we all know," said Mani.
"Holding them back in Islamabad for a day was a ploy of Pakistan. Pakistan knew the terrorists' design, despite that it insisted them to stay there for a day (by delaying talks). Thus, there was no negligence on the part of officers. The decision about their visit and the approach paper were cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The RTI reply shown by some channels that there was 'negligence' is not true. As when the delegation reached there, the date for talk was extended from November 25 to 26. I was not part of that delegation, hence only a delegation member could say what had happened there (in Islamabad)," he further added.
When asked whether the MHA officials tried to contact them in Pakistan after the horrifying attack, Mani said, "Deputy commandant-level officers of paramilitary such as BSF, ITBP and CRPF were in the control room. They kept on trying to contact the Indian counterterrorism officers in Islamabad but were unable to reach them. It could be a Pakistan's ploy to make them stay at a place where there is mobile network issue. When they finally succeeded, I can't say. Later JS (police) [Joint Secretary-police] decided to deploy National Security Guards (NSG). Other JSes also extended their support."
The attacks which began on November 26, 2008, and lasted for three days had killed over 160 people and left at least 300 injured.
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