Raids by Pak Army terror camps an 'eyewash': Jundal

Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative Sayed Ansari alias Abu Jundal has told interrogators that four Indians were working for the banned terror outfit in Pakistan in 2006 and the raids conducted by the army and Federal Investigation Agency on terror camps in that country after the 26/11 strike were an 'eyewash'.

"Elaborating the structure and functioning of the LeT in Pakistan, Jundal stated that in 2006 he had met four Indian nationals who introduced themselves as Abu Sherjil and  Abu Zarar- from Beed district of Maharashtra-- Abu Musad from Jammu and Abu Zaid, whose state Jundal does not know," said a Mumbai crime branch official.

However, he clarified that there were no clues to link them with the 26/11 terror attacks.

Jundal also claimed that following the international pressure, a few weeks after 26/11 sleuths of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency had raided the control room and destroyed it, police said.

Months later, when FIA raided Baitul Mujahideen camp, it had arrested LeT 'commander' Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and subsequently some more LeT handlers, police said. Jundal's revelation about the 'friendly' raids is vindication of the Indian security agencies stand in this regard.

"LeT was informed in advance about the raids to be  conducted by FIA and Pakistan Army. The action by FIA was a drama and just an eyewash. The arrested LeT men by the FIA were not kept in jail but in safe places," the police officer said quoting Jundal.

Pakistani army's had launched an operation against LeT and raided its camps after the 26/11. However, the armymen had telephoned LeT bosses before the raids and told them  to destroy the evidence, claimed Jundal, according to police.

Jundal escaped to Pakistan via Bangladesh after the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad had seized a huge arms haul in Aurangabad in 2006.