THE MAKING OF A TERRORIST

After the terror strike in Mumbai on November 26, the continuation of the probe and identification of the culprits depends on the evidence.Does India have evidence that the men who attacked Mumbai came from Pakistan? That they were recruited and trained and sent by Pakistan-based groups? Even now, ten days after the attack, the war over the evidence continues to escalate. Even today when the headlines were dominated by Pakistan's supposed promise that they would act against the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pakistan clarified that they have made no such promise and once again asked India to come up with evidence to back its claims. At the centre of India's evidence is Mohammed Ajmal Amir, the terrorist who is in India's custody. It is his story, which nails any doubts about where these men came from. Here is the full definitive account of the making of Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab in his own words.

Qasab: The coordinates
Name: Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab
Father: Mohammed Amir Imam Qasab
Occupation: Dahi Puri stall
Mother: Noor-e-Tai
Address: Village Faridkot, Dipalpur Tehsil, Okara district
Uncles: Nazir residing at Chamiayya Chisti, Lakhirpur Road and Manzoor residing at Safawala Chowk, Lahore

Qasab: The early years
Qasab said that he studied till class 4 at a government primary school and went to Lahore in 2000 after leaving school. He then stayed with brother Afzal in galli number 54, room number 12, mohalla, Toit Abad, near Yadgar Minar, Lahore.He said he did labour jobs at different places till 2005. In 2005, he had quarrel with my father and left home. He said, he went to Ali Hajveri Darbar at Lahore, for a home for runaway boys.From robbery to terrorismIt's at this home for runaway boys that the turning point came. Qasab met a man called Shafiq with whom he worked it seemed in a restaurant. Shafiq introduced him to a man Muzaffar with whom he would enter a life of petty criminality the first step towards becoming a terrorist.Qasab said that he came in contact with Muzaffar Lal Khan, resident of Romiya Village, Atak Tehsil. He then decided to enter into dacoity to make more money. He hired a flat at Bangash Colony, Rawalpindi. Qasab told they needed firerarms for the job and in search of firearms, we saw some LeT stalls at Raja Bazaar, Rawalpindi. We decided to join the LeT for weapons training. Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab identified in Faridkot? An article in newspaper Observer has reported that electoral lists for Faridkot shows a Mohammed Amir and that his national identity card number obtained. A villager is quoted saying that we know that boy (caught in Mumbai) is from Faridkot and they knew him from the first night (of the attack). "They brainwash our youth about jihad, there are people who do it in this village. It is so wrong," the villager told the Observer. "Faridkot is active recruiting ground for LeT. Qasab has not lived in Faridkot for four years; visited family once a year. Qasab frequently talked of freeing Kashmir from Indian rule," he added.

Qasab: Training to be LeT
Qasab had three rounds of training to be a Let militant.

Round 1 Qasab told the investigators that they were given Rs 200 and asked to go to Marqas Taiyyaba, Muridke. The first round of training called Daura-Sufa went on for 21 days. There were lectures on Hadis, Quran by Mufti Sayeed. The routine during the round was -- rest, lunch, namaz, PT, games, namaz and dinner.

Round 2 The second round was called Daura-aam or which also took 21 days. It was held at Mansehra, Buttal village. The weapons training was given by Abdul Rehman. The weapons mainly were AK-47, Green-O, SKS, Uzi guns, pistol, revolver. The routine included rest, lunch, namaz, PT, games, namaz and dinner.He said that they took a break to do Khidmat or service for two months.

Round 3 The third round of training, called Daura-Khas, went on for three months. It was held at Chelabandi Pahadi area. The Weapons instructor this time was Abu Mawiya and they were trained to operate weapons such as hand grenades, rocker launcher and mortar. The lectures were given on Indian security agencies.Countdown to the missionQasab said that out of 32 trainees, 16 were selected for confidential operation by Zaqi-ur-Rehman, who was also called chacha. Out of 16 selected, three ran away. "Thirteen trainees were then sent for two rounds of training to Muridke camp. We were taught swimming, shown clippings of atrocities on Muslims in India and took lectures on RAW," he said.

Mission Mumbai
The final ten
Date: September 15, 2008
Qasab and Ismail: Team CST-- Abu Aksha and Abu Umar, Bada Abdul Rehman and Abu Ali, Chotta Abdul Rehman and Afadulla, and Shoaib and Abu UmerQasab said they were shown film on CST station and were told to kidnap people and take them on a roof of the building. He said we then had to contact Abdul Rahman, who would give numbers of TV channels and we were to contact them on phone and make demands for releasing hostages."We were to move on September 27, but it got cancelled. We stayed at Karachi and practised travelling by speed boats. We finally moved on November 23," he said.

The Kuber inventory: Traces of evidence?
The empty packets of 50 rounds of bullets for .34 bore gun. Made in China.
Pink foam wrapping weapon.
Nylon rope used to transfer goods from mother ship to vessel.
Yellow bag made of nylon strings tied together, which had blood-like stains on the inside.
16 multi-coloured blankets.
A namaaz kerchief in black and white with the label "Cashmilan Best Qlty, Phone 061 4516729."
Black quarter pants with the label South Pole, Made in Pakistan.
Four boxes of detergent with the label Pakistan.
Two sachets of Nestle Milk Pak, Nestle Pakistan Limited.
Two black leather belts.
Eight pencil cell batteries from Duracell.
Eight razors of the brand Gelite.
Shaving cream, brand Touchme, Made in Pakistan.
Dental cream, brand Medicam, Made in Pakistan.
Tissue paper, brand Zik Brothers, Karachi.
55 litre plastic tank made in the Gulf. The address on it: HO No 8, Industrial area Karachi, Pakistan. Contact Number: 042577488-9, 0425770811.