Revealed: home of Mumbai's gunman in Pakistan village

The Guardian ^ | 12/7/2008 | Saeed Shah

[mojito]

Since the terrorist attacks in Mumbai 10 days ago, speculation has been rife about the birthplace of the lone surviving gunman, Ajmal Amir Kasab. India and Pakistan have clashed over reports that he came from the Punjab. Saeed Shah, after spending days travelling throughout the region, tracked down the killer's home - and his grandfather - and found conclusive proof of his identity.

The little house was certainly that of a poor family, with a courtyard to one side and a small cart propped up in one corner. The old man and middle-aged woman who answered the door were not the owners. No, they insisted, the owners were away.

'They've gone to a wedding,' said the old man, identifying himself as Sultan. He was, he said, Amir's father-in-law. So, that would make him Ajmal's grandfather? At last, it seemed, this was the right place.

It had taken days to get to Faridkot, a small, dirt-poor village in Pakistan's Punjab province. More than a week after the arrest of the only Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist taken alive during the terror strike on Mumbai, so little was still known about him.

[mojito]

This seems conclusive that the terrorists came from Pakistan.

[xJones]

It would be pitiful if it wasn’t so deadly. They go among the poorest, select the most promising candidates, and brainwash them with Wahabbi-inspired propaganda.

[ClaudiusI]

Did they find Obama bumperstickers?

[mojito]

Following our last visit to Faridkot, the mayor, Wattoo, announced via the loudspeaker at the mosque that no one was to speak to any outsiders. By yesterday, Pakistani intelligence officials had descended in force on Faridkot. Locals, speaking by telephone, said a Pakistani TV crew and an American journalist had been roughed up and run out of town. It appeared that the backlash had begun.

Yes, this certainly sounds like a Democrat strong-hold.

[Paladin2]

Did they interview the local mullahs?

[null and void]

Level it.

[neither-nor]

The authorities may now attempt to deny that Ajmal's parents live in Faridkot, but, according to some locals, they have been there for some 20 years. But by the end of our visit, a crucial piece of evidence had been gained. The Observer has managed to obtain an electoral roll for Faridkot, which falls under union council number 5, tehsil (area) Depalpur, district Okara. The list of 478 registered voters shows a 'Mohammed Amir', married to Noor Elahi, living in Faridkot. Amir's national identity card number is given as 3530121767339, and Noor's is 3530157035058.

That appears to be the last piece of the jigsaw. A man called Amir and his wife, Noor, do live in Faridkot, official records show. They have a son called Ajmal.

If this isn't conclusive proof for the general public, i.e for most of us not privy to intelligence information, then I dunno what is.

The reporter even managed to get the id card number of the killer's parents! Pakistani National Identity Cards (NIC) are the Pakistan government's primary means of 'id-ing' its citizens, and something like US social security number.

[B4Ranch]

Not too many wealthy youngsters choose the military as a career, here in the US either.

[freeangel]

“They’ve gone to a wedding’??????

There certainly are a lot of weddings attended by dubious muzzies, aren’t there?