New Delhi, June 25
In a major breakthrough, Indian investigators, for the first time, have in their custody a member of the core group of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), which planned, executed and directed the deadly 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai.

Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Hamza alias Abu Zindal was arrested by the Delhi Police from the IGI Airport. Ansari’s arrest, claim investigators, will help filling in a vital missing link to nail Jamaat-ud-Dawaa chief Hafiz Saeed, who is said to be the mastermind of the 2008 carnage that left 166 persons, including many foreigners, dead.

“The person who goes by pseudonym Abu Zindal has been apprehended and is the custody of our investigative agencies," Home Minister P. Chidambaram confirmed today.

Top officials revealed that Ansari, who was reportedly arrested on June 21, had over 10 different aliases. It was Ansari who guided the ten Mumbai attackers over phone from Pakistan during the attack. His bone-chilling message to the gun-totting terrorists was to annihilate hostages in two (Taj and Oberoi) hotels, besides the Chabad House (a Jewish prayer house). The phone calls were intercepted, traced to Pakistan and also recorded. Specific use of Hindi words like "Prashasan (administration), "Udharan" (example) and Yuvak (youth), gave a hint of an Indian in the Pakistan-based core group. Ansari guided the attackers using a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) line which was connected to hand-held mobile phones of the gunmen. The terrorists had taken the sea-route to enter India.

Islamabad has so far refused to validate voice samples of Ansari and have claimed there was not enough evidence against Hafiz Saeed. Sources suggested that Ansari was ‘picked up’ from Saudi Arabia by Indian intelligence agencies in a covert operation.

Ansari is believed to have been living here on a Pakistani passport under the name of Riyasat Ali and recruiting for LeT. An Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against him for using weapons, explosives and indulging in terror activities.

He is the first person among the core group of planners of the Mumbai attacks to have been arrested by India. Apart from Ansari, the core group comprised Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakvi, Abu Qahafa, Illyas Kashmiri, Tahawwur Rana, David Coleman Headley, Sajid Malik, Pakistani Army Major Iqbal, Major Sameer Ali and Major Abdul Rehman Hashmi.

Of these Rana and Headley, are in the US custody and have been interrogated by the National Investigation Agency team. The core group names were part of the list Chidambaram discussed with his Pakistan counterpart Rehman Malik in June 2010. Malik had reportedly feigned ignorance over several names.

Ansari taught the 10 Mumbai attackers Hindi words. In a statement to the special court, Ajmal Kasab -the lone surviving 26/11attacker to be held by the Mumbai police - had named Abu Zindal (an alias for Ansari) as the Hindi teacher of the 10 terrorists. He also named ‘Zindal’ as being in the inner ring of the LeT. Ansari (31) belongs to Georai area of Beed district in Maharashtra. After the 2002 Gujarat riots, he joined the banned Students Islamic Movement of India, before being recruited by the Indian Mujahideen and later by the LeT.