<p>Mumbai: Pakistan-based terror operative Azam Cheema alias Babaji was the key accused who planned, coordinated and executed the 7/11 Mumbai train terror strikes, however, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) failed to establish the link. </p><p>Cheema (also spelled Chima) was among the 15 wanted in the train bombings and figured in the charge sheet by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Mumbai Police before a special court set up under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. </p><p>Cheema died on February 28, 2024, aged around 70.</p><p>Cheema was the intelligence chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba and largely based in Bahawalpur in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. </p>.7/11 Mumbai train blasts: Bombay High Court acquits all 12 accused; says prosecution 'utterly failed' to prove case.<p>He was considered close to LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the chief of operations of the LeT. </p><p>Besides 7/11 train blasts, he had also played a role in the 26/11 fidayeen attacks in Mumbai. From 2008, till his death, he was LeT operations advisor. </p><p>The Bombay High Court, while acquitting 12 accused, said: “It is pertinent to note that the prosecution had sought the police custody remand of the accused on the ground, inter alia, that the accused were in contact with Pakistanis including Azam Cheema and his associates. Yet, even after the defence produced the CDR, the prosecution failed to establish any nexus between the accused and the Pakistani nationals, including Azam Cheema and his associates.” </p><p>It may be brought to light, according to a document of the US Department of the Treasury: “Cheema has also been described as LeT's surveillance or intelligence chief and has been involved in LeT's training activities, specifically training LeT members in bomb making and skills needed to infiltrate India.” </p><p>According to investigations by Mumbai police, Cheema used to know Osama bin Laden and order top al Qaeda operatives. </p><p>Besides, he was also close to late ISI chief Lieutenant General Hamid Gul.</p><p>He was an Afghan war veteran who was well-versed in reading maps, particularly those pertaining to India and known to provide training to terrorists. </p>
<p>Mumbai: Pakistan-based terror operative Azam Cheema alias Babaji was the key accused who planned, coordinated and executed the 7/11 Mumbai train terror strikes, however, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) failed to establish the link. </p><p>Cheema (also spelled Chima) was among the 15 wanted in the train bombings and figured in the charge sheet by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Mumbai Police before a special court set up under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. </p><p>Cheema died on February 28, 2024, aged around 70.</p><p>Cheema was the intelligence chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba and largely based in Bahawalpur in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. </p>.7/11 Mumbai train blasts: Bombay High Court acquits all 12 accused; says prosecution 'utterly failed' to prove case.<p>He was considered close to LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the chief of operations of the LeT. </p><p>Besides 7/11 train blasts, he had also played a role in the 26/11 fidayeen attacks in Mumbai. From 2008, till his death, he was LeT operations advisor. </p><p>The Bombay High Court, while acquitting 12 accused, said: “It is pertinent to note that the prosecution had sought the police custody remand of the accused on the ground, inter alia, that the accused were in contact with Pakistanis including Azam Cheema and his associates. Yet, even after the defence produced the CDR, the prosecution failed to establish any nexus between the accused and the Pakistani nationals, including Azam Cheema and his associates.” </p><p>It may be brought to light, according to a document of the US Department of the Treasury: “Cheema has also been described as LeT's surveillance or intelligence chief and has been involved in LeT's training activities, specifically training LeT members in bomb making and skills needed to infiltrate India.” </p><p>According to investigations by Mumbai police, Cheema used to know Osama bin Laden and order top al Qaeda operatives. </p><p>Besides, he was also close to late ISI chief Lieutenant General Hamid Gul.</p><p>He was an Afghan war veteran who was well-versed in reading maps, particularly those pertaining to India and known to provide training to terrorists. </p>