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“Maps recovered from Ajmal’s backpack”

Staff Reporter

Sea routes, important locations were indicated on them

MUMBAI: Two identical colour prints of a map were recovered from the backpack of Mohammed Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab’, a ‘panch’ witness told the special sessions court trying the 26/11 case on Thursday.

During the exchange of fire between the attackers and the police at Cama hospital, Ajmal left his bag behind before speeding off with his partner, Abu Ismail, towards Girgaum Chowpatty.

The maps indicated the route from south Mumbai’s Malabar Hill to the suburb of Mahim, witness Sheikh Niazuddin said. A geometry set, comprising measuring apparatus, was found in the bag.

“Clinching evidence”

Calling the testimony “a sensational revelation,” Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the media that the maps were of sea routes and offered “clinching evidence” against the lone surviving gunman.

He said they had specific markings of locations along the sea route from Karachi to Mumbai. The longitude and latitude coordinates of Malabar Hill, home to the Chief Minister and Governor, and of Mahim were indicated on them.

“The maps are an important piece of evidence. Although the attackers had Global Positioning System (GPS) sets, they did not rely on them. A ruler and other instruments were meant for measuring the longitudes and latitudes,” Mr. Nikam said.

Earlier, a witness had testified to finding a rough sketch in Ismail’s bag, which showed the position of Girgaum Chowpatty and Raj Bhavan in Malabar Hill.

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