‘Bite this pill if you are caught’

The 10 terrorists who wreaked mayhem in Mumbai last week had chains with cyanide pills around their necks to kill themselves if they were caught by the police.

During their one-year militant training, their bosses kept telling them: “Bite this pill if the police ever corner you during your mission.” This, the terrorists were told, would kill them, paving their way “straight to heaven”.

This was revealed by Mohammad Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist to be arrested, during interrogation.

If cornered by the police, they were to bite the pill, bringing them death in 15 minutes. They were told this would bring police investigations to a dead end and their “brothers” could continue their “holy fight”, Kasab said. Senior police officers said this was typical of Al-Qaeda activists.

The terrorists were warned not to reveal about the others in the group or the training camps if they were caught. Police suspect Kasab’s chain  fell off when he was assaulted by a mob after he was overpowered by the police.

The police plan to check the bodies of the nine other terrorists kept in the mortuary at JJ Hospital.

Police officials interrogating Kasab over the last week described him as “moody” who often “rants”. He is not revealing much and is silent when asked about the terror camps, a senior officer said.