Investigators seek technical assistance to crack contents of 35 email accounts; US diplomats asked to contact Yahoo officials.
MUMBAI: Investigators have not been able to crack the contents of at least 35 email accounts from which, they believe, coded instructions were sent to the perpetrators of the July 11 blasts by their Lashkar-e-Tayiba bosses in Pakistan.
Police and intelligence sources told DNA that most of the accounts in question were hosted on Yahoo Mail and protected with passwords.
“These accounts are free web-based email accounts and a vital part of the 11/7 probe,” a senior police officer connected with the investigation said.
“To access the contents we have approached the US consulate officials in Mumbai. Efforts are also being made to reach Yahoo officials in the US for assistance.”
Sources said the instructions, which included maps, photographs, and technical details (how to use explosives and camouflage them), were disguised by means of steganography (the art of hiding messages in graphic files).
Failure to access this kind of material is an indication that the 11/7 probe is far from complete, contrary to police claims.
An officer of the Anti-Terrorism Squad said, “The passwords given to us by the accused arrested are incorrect and we need superior technical assistance to access the contents.”
ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi told DNA, “We are trying to access the content of messages received and delivered through those email accounts. We have sought help from appropriate authorities.”
George Zacharias, head of Yahoo India, said, “There are standard benchmarks for co-operation with investigating agencies over security related issues.”
Sources said several of the accounts in question belong to Faizal Shaikh and Kamal Ahmed Ansari, two of the suspects held in connection with the blasts.
“We have confirmed that Faizal opened an email account while in Pakistan. We also have proof that he operated that account until recently,” a senior ATS officer said.
The matter has reportedly been taken up at the highest echelons in New Delhi as well.
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