US Announces $5 Million Reward For Information On 26/11 Perpetrators

WASHINGTON — The US on Monday announced a $5 million reward for in­formation leading to the arrest or con­viction in any country of any individ­ual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008 Mumbai attack.

The Trump administration an­nounced this major reward (of over Rs 35 crore) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10 Pak­istan-based LeT terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India’s finan­cial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

The move comes less than a fortnight after Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Min­ister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and ruled that even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme on Mon­day said it is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information lead­ing to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack.

From November 26 to 29, 2008, 10 terrorists associated with the LeT carried out a series of coordinated assaults against multiple targets in Mumbai, it said. “The United States is committed to working with our in­ternational partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack,” it said.

Today’s announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack.

In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, an­other senior LeT leader.

In December 2001, the Depart­ment of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressur­ing groups to get out of the terrorism business, the State Department said.

In May 2005, the United Nations (UN) 1267 Sanctions Committee add­ed LeT to the Consolidated UN Secu­rity Council Sanctions List.

The State Department said any­one with information on this inci­dent can contact the RFJ office via the website, e-mail (info@rewards­forjustice.net), phone (800-877-3927 in North America), or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA).

Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Officer at the nearest US embassy or consulate. “All information will be kept strictly confidential,” it said.

The RFJ programme is adminis­tered by the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid over $150 million to more than 100 people who provided actionable information that helped bring ter­rorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.

Mumbai attacks’ 10th anniversary: India Pays Tributes To Victims

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to victims of the 26/11 Mumbai ter­ror attacks and said the time has come for the world community to come together to combat the menace of terrorism and isolate nations that harbour terrorists.

“The sacrifice made by the brave hearts in that inhuman attack should not go in vain and the time has come for the world community to come together to combat the grow­ing menace of terrorism and isolate nations which harbour terrorists,” the vice president’s secretariat tweeted.

Naidu also remembered those who lost their lives in the attack 10 years ago.

In a tweet, Modi paid tributes to those who lost their lives in the 26/11 incident, saying the country stood in solidarity with the bereaved families. “A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks,” he said.

In Mumbai, floral tributes were paid on Monday to those who laid down their lives while fighting Pakistani terrorists who had attacked the metropolis on this day 10 years ago.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the dignitaries who paid homage at the 26/11 police memorial site at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana in south Mumbai.

“I pay homage to the brave policemen who fought for Mum­bai’s safety and laid down their lives for us on 26/11. We are proud of them and we will strive hard for the safety and security of our state,” Fadnavis said.

Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, Maharashtra Police Chief Datta Pad­salgikar and Mumbai Commission­er of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal also attended the ceremony.

Family members of the po­licemen who lost their lives dur­ing the 26/11 attacks were also present during the ceremony. On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores.

The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Kark­are, Army major Sandeep Un­nikrishnan, Mumbai’s additional police commissioner Ashok Kamte, senior police inspector Vijay Salaskar and ASI Tu­karam Omble were among those killed in the attack. The 26/11 attacks had begun on November 26 and lasted till November 29.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Nariman House Jewish com­munity centre, now renamed Nari­man Light House, were some of the places targeted by the terrorists.

Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, after paying tributes, praised the Mumbai Police but pulled up the

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