SINGAPORE HOSTAGE'S LAST MOMENTS

SINGAPORE HOSTAGE'S LAST MOMENTS
Indian govt releases chilling transcripts of terrorist phone calls
January 09, 2009 Print Ready Email Article

OBEROI-TRIDENT AT 3.53AM, 27 NOV
Click to see larger image
FEAR: A file picture of a hostage peeking from a window of the Oberoi-Trident. PICTURE: AFP

HANDLER 1: 'Brother Abdul. The media is comparing your action to 9/11. One senior police official has been killed.'

GUNMAN 1: 'We are on the 10th/11th floor. We have five hostages.'

HANDLER 2: Everything is being recorded by the media. Inflict the maximum damage. Keep fighting. Don't be taken alive.

HANDLER 1: Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims. Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.

GUNMAN 2: We have three foreigners, including women. From Singapore and China.

HANDLER 1: Kill them.

The dossier then notes that the telephone intercept records the 'voices of (the gunmen) directing hostages to stand in a line, and telling two Muslims to stand aside. Sound of gunfire. Cheering voices in background. (One handler) hands telephone to (another handler),' who says, 'Find the way to go downstairs.'

THE TAJ AT 3.10AM, 27 NOV

A PAKISTANI-BASED HANDLER: There are three ministers and one secretary of the cabinet in your hotel. We don't know in which room.

GUNMAN: Oh! That is good news. It is the icing on the cake!

HANDLER: Find those three or four persons and then get whatever you want from India.

GUNMAN: Pray that we find them.

Later, time unknown, another call is made to the Taj.

HANDLER: The ATS chief has been killed. Your work is very important. Allah is helping you. The Vazir (minister) should not escape. Try and set the place on fire.

NARIMAN HOUSE AT 7.45PM, 27 NOV

HANDLER: Keep in mind that hostages are of use only as long as you do not come under fire because of their safety. If you are still threatened, then don't saddle yourself with the burden of the hostages. Immediately kill them. The Army claims to have done the work without any hostage being harmed. Another thing: Israel has made a request through diplomatic channels to save the hostages. If the hostages are killed, it will spoil relations between India and Israel.

TERRORIST: So be it, God willing.