Signs are Israeli hostages tortured, strangled: Police

The bodies were handed over to the relatives of the victims without conducting autopsy following a request by the Israeli Consulate. Judaism does not permit autopsy or embalming of bodies.

Maria also revealed that each of the 10 terrorists who came into the city on November 26 were carrying bombs and that all of them have now been accounted for. According to preliminary reports from our Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, each of the 10 terrorists was carrying an explosive device of 8 kg, with the explosive resembling black clay. Interrogation of Mohammed Ajmal Kasab has revealed that the terrorists smeared the explosive with greasing oil while they were on the boat to the city. Each of the bombs had ball bearings packed inside,” he said.

“While one of these was recovered at CST railway station yesterday, two exploded in taxis at Dockyard Road and Vile Parle, one each was found on streets behind and in front of the Taj Mahal hotel, one was exploded inside the hotel by the terrorists damaging the dome, one was found in a flower bed outside Oberoi hotel and one inside it, and one each were planted on the ground and fourth floor of Nariman House to prevent commandos from entering the building from below or the terrace,” said Maria.

According to the police, Kasab, the lone terrorist nabbed alive, told them on the day of his arrest that as soon as he reached CST station, he went to the toilet for five to 10 minutes and was told by slain terrorist Abu Dera Ismail Khan that he had already planted the two bombs they were carrying. “He told us that by the time he got out of the bathroom, Ismail had already planted the bombs. Kasab told us that he thought Ismail had planted both bombs inside the taxi that exploded at Dockyard Road,” said Maria. Police sources added that all 10 terrorists on the suicide mission were from Punjab province in Pakistan. “While Kasab was from Faridkot village, many of the others were from Faisalabad city,” said sources.

The Crime Branch has also grilled Vinod Masani, the owner of the trawler Kuber used by the attackers to get close to the Mumbai shore. “He was brought from Porbandar to verify certain sequence of events. Masani told us that Kuber sailed from Porbandar on November 14 along with another of his vessels named MV Ma. He said both vessels stayed in the line of sight of each other, only to be separated on either November 20 or 21 when Kuber drifted away due to bad weather. This was the last time Kuber was spotted, and it was about 150 nautical miles from Porbandar,” Maria said.