I confess, says Jundal in court

Owing to Saturday's violence at Azad Maidan, there was tight security at Killa Court yesterday. But there was another reason for the precaution - around 3 pm, key 26/11 handler Syed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal was brought there to make a confessional statement.

Spilling the beans: Syed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal is said to have provided a deep insight into the Lashkar-e- Taiba's role in the 2008 Mumbai strikes. File pic

The whole surrounding area had been cordoned off when Jundal's statement was being recorded in front of additional chief metropolitan magistrate PS Rathod under section 164 of CrPC.

According to sources, Jundal acknowledged that he was sitting in the Pak control room during the operations.

He was the one who taught Hindi to Ajmal Qasab and the nine other terrorists who came to the city. Jundal said that Qasab and he had met earlier on a few occasions.

Spilling the beans
A source said the statement in front of a magistrate is very important, as it will later help police file a strong chargesheet against the accused.

After being produced in court yesterday, the magistrate asked Jundal again if he had thought over his decision to confess and if he was taking the step voluntarily, to which Jundal replied in the affirmative.

Jundal's application to record his statement had come a day after he was reportedly brought face to face with Qasab, who identified him as one of the conspirators of the terror operation. Jundal is lodged in Arthur Road jail and is in the custody of the Crime Branch.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Crime Branch has picked up Abdul Rafe, a close aide of Jundal for questioning. Police said Rafe was in the Gulf between 2005 and 2008, the period during which he allegedly came into contact with Jundal. Rafe has denied involvement in the 26/11 conspiracy.u00a0