The Mumbai police completed a formidable task on Wednesday, three months to the date of the November terror attacks, when it filed a mammoth charge-sheet on the incident. Over 11,000 pages, 2000 witnesses, 38 accused, one terrorist caught alive and new information about calls made by the terrorists to their handlers are part of this enormous effort. Those in custody are Ajmal Amir 'Kasab', the lone terrorist who was captured alive as well as the two Indians accused of providing local assistance, Faheem and Sabauddin Ansari. The rest are mainly LeT operatives in Pakistan.

But the most startling revelations from this charge-sheet is the record of the 284 calls made by Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to their handlers in Pakistan from the Taj and Trident hotels and from Nariman House in Colaba. Even more startling is the fact that the charge-sheet names, though it does not accuse, a serving officer of the Pakistan army. Some calls were traced to an IP address owned by Colonel R Sadatullah of a telecommunications agency run by the officers of the army's signal corps.

The information about the calls means that the terrorists were being constantly advised and guided about what to do and how to proceed. Most calls — 181 — were made during the Nariman House siege, where chillingly ruthless instructions were given on how to kill the hostages — members of the orthodox Jewish Chabad Lubovich sect.

The Mumbai police deserves commendation for the speed with which the charge-sheet was completed and the wealth of detail that was unearthed. It appears to be in some way a collaborative effort — the help of international agencies was given and taken. It also implies that there was adequate coordination with India's various intelligence agencies and security outfits involved in the investigation. This is clear from the fact that evidence has been presented other than the information made available from the interrogation of Ajmal Amir.

Now that this significant milestone has been crossed, it can only be hoped that the information presented in the charge-sheet is backed by evidence which stands up to scrutiny in a court of law. Unfortunately it has to be said that all too often in India this is where the police stumble badly. It is worth remembering that the trial into the 1993 Bombay serial blasts took 13 years. The prosecution has promised the trial will be completed in "three to six" months. Suffice to say, the nation needs justice in as short a time span as possible.

DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication