A Pakistan-based handler had told the 26/11 attackers in Chabad House, Nariman House to shoot the hostages and ensure a huge outcry, according to intercepts of the phone exchange, played out in court by the prosecution on Wednesday.

The calls between terrorists Abu Ummar and Imran Babar, and their handlers, had been recorded by the ATS. They reveal how one of the gunmen had to be coaxed into helping his associate fight the NSG who were closing in on them.

The terrorists, who eventually killed six Israeli hostages including Rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, were told the death of Israelis would ruin the growing relations between the two countries. They were told to kill the hostages as soon as they felt the commandos closing in on them.

Handler: Fire jap open hojayenga toh aap unko khatam kar do. Jaab aapne dekha ki aapke upaar dabaw aa raha hai, sabse pehle inhe khatam karo. (When firing begins, then you should kill them. When you see them building pressure on you, first thing you do is kill them).

Handler: Abhi baat yeh hai ki in logoko bachane ke liyein approach aa rahi hai. Agar yeh log maare jaatein hain toh shor mach jayega. (The point is that people are trying to save them. If these hostages are killed then there will a huge hue and cry)

After the conversation, on the directions of their handlers, the gunmen killed two hostages. They were also told to make sure after the firing that the hostages had died.

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