26/11 trial: 2 FBI officers, 3 US nationals to depose today

Three US nationals are expected to give their testimony in the 26/11 terror attack case through videoconferencing while two Federal Bureau of Investigation officers are likely to appear in person before the special court in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"Two Federal Bureau of Investigation officers are also likely to appear in person to tender evidence," special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told PTI. The services of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd have been requisitioned to provide infrastructure to enable the court to to depose the US nationals through videoconfrencing in the Mumbai attack case, Nikam said. The identities of the witnesses have been kept secret for security reasons, the prosecutor said. At least four screens would be put up in the court which is housed in the high security central prison area located at Arthur Road in central Mumbai.

The witnesses would throw light on how the ten terrorists including the lone surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab were in touch with their handlers in Pakistan through mobile phones, Nikam said. Two FBI officials are also expected to appear in person for deposition as witnesses, the prosecutor said. This is for the first time that witnesses from abroad are deposing in a terror attack case, Nikam said.

After the 26/11 terror attacks, in which 166 persons including six Americans were killed, FBI had also conducted a probe and collected clinching evidence which would be placed before the trial court in Mumbai. FBI sleuths would tell the court how the Mumbai terror attacks were planned and executed by Lashkar-e-Tayiba and its commanders. They would also throw light on from where the Global Positioning System was activated and how during the terror attacks the terrorists were in constant touch with their handlers in Pakistan, Nikam said.

The case of the prosecution is that some terrorists had sought instructions from wanted accused based in Pakistan through voice over internet protocol (VOIP) in New Jersey, USA. The Mumbai police had sought the services of FBI on this aspect.