Washington: The United States has announced a reward of $5 million for information which will lead to the arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba member Sajid Mir for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
“Sajid Mir, a senior member of the Pakistan-based foreign terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is wanted for his involvement in the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The Rewards for Justice programme is offering a reward of up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of Sajid Mir for his role in these attacks,” said a statement issued by the US Rewards for Justice programme.
On that dreadful day 12 years ago, 10 terrorists — trained by Pakistan-based terrorist organisation LeT — carried out deadly attacks on select targets in Mumbai like the Taj Mahal Hotel, Oberoi Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Nariman (Chabad) House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. As many as 166 people were killed in the multiple attacks and several hundred injured.
In encounters with Mumbai police, nine terrorists were killed while lone survivor Ajmal Amir Kasab was caught and sentenced to death. He was hanged at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune on November 11, 2012.
“Sajid Mir was LeT’s operations manager for the Mumbai attack, playing a leading role in its planning, preparation, and execution. Mir was indicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (Chicago, Illinois) on April 21, 2011, and was charged with conspiracy to injure the property of a foreign government; providing material support to terrorists; aiding and abetting the killing of a citizen outside of the US; and the bombing of places of public use. According to the indictment, during the attacks, Mir advised the attackers to kill hostages, set fires, and throw grenades and also sought the release of a hostage in exchange for the release of a captured attacker. A warrant for Mir’s arrest was issued on April 22, 2011. In 2019, Mir was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List,” the US said.
“According to the US Department of Treasury, as of 2005, Mir directed training for operatives preparing for overseas recruiting, money laundering, and operational planning. The LeT was designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US Department of State in December 2001,” the department added.
Even after so many years, Pakistani has not taken action against the culprits.
