PURPORTED "INDIA'S MOST WANTED" LIST EXPANDS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 NEW DELHI 005239 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR S/CT, INR/B E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PINR KCRM IN PK SUBJECT: PURPORTED "INDIA'S MOST WANTED" LIST EXPANDS ON D-COMPANY, LEAVES OUT LASHKAR? REF: 05 NEW DELHI 8782 NEW DELHI 00005239 001.2 OF 007 Classified By: A/PolCouns Jon Dorschner for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During the Indo-Pak Composite Dialogue talks on Terrorism and Narcotics Trafficking on May 30 in Islamabad, Home Secretary VK Duggal and his Pakistani counterpart Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah exchanged their countries' "most wanted" lists of fugitives each capital seeks extradited. Few observers believe any of the individuals on either list will be extradited or deported to the other country. The GOP list reportedly contained the names of 58 individuals allegedly residing in India and wanted by Pakistani law enforcement; various Indian media reported that New Delhi's list contained the names of either 35 or 38 fugitives from Indian law enforcement allegedly residing in Pakistan. In past years, the Indian list numbered 20 individuals, and the names have been widely available in Indian press; we have not seen the current Indian list in open source reporting. (NOTE Rediff.com in August 2005 reported that, during that round of Home Sec retary talks in New Delhi, the Indian list contained "nearly 30 names" including Mumbai mobster Dawood Ibrahim; terrorist leaders Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, and Syed Salahuddin; and United Liberation front of Assam chief Paresh Barua. This list is also not clearly available in Indian news media. End Note.) End Summary. New List Hard to Come By -------------- ¶2. (C) Embassy contact and noted Delhi-based terrorism analyst Ajai Sahni gave Poloff what he said was a copy of the Indian "List and Details of Most Wanted Fugitives From Law in India Who are Residing in Pakistan" (see Para 5). Sahni would not say whence he got the list, but he hinted it was drafted by the MEA using inputs from the Home Ministry, probably to include the Intelligence Bureau. We know Sahni has contacts in the Home Ministry through his organization's patron, former Punjab Police Chief KPS Gill. Our repeated efforts to obtain a copy of the list from the Foreign Ministry and the Pakistani High Commission were unsuccessful -- MEA Director (Pakistan) Jeeva Sagar told us the list was classified and could not be shared. (COMMENT: On Indo-Pak matters, even when the MEA has been unresponsive, we are usually able to obtain copies of documents from the Pakistani High Commission. This is perhaps the first time in two years we have met with failure on this front. End Comment.) The "List of 20" presented below for comparison (see Para 6) was compiled by Embassy New Delhi using open source reporting. New List Includes New Names; One Surprise Deletion -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The substantial differences between the two lists are clear. The most significant aspect is that 13 new names are attributed to "D-Company," the criminal enterprise headed by Dawood Ibrahim; this brings to 21 the total D-Company representation on the Indian list, or approximately 60%. The other notable aspect is the addition of two individuals suspected of involvement in the December 1999 hijacking of IC-814 (Reftel),bringing that compliment to six. ¶4. (C) Discrepancies between the two lists are noted within NEW DELHI 00005239 002 OF 007 the text of the new list and most can be attributed to administrative or typographical errors. Of primary note is that the more recent list does not include the #2 name on the "List of 20," Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, co-founder of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, the largest and most lethal jihadi groups operating in India, also involved in the December 2001 attack on Parliament -- a glaring omission. Uncertain Provenance, Discrepancies Cast Doubt -------------- - ¶5. (C) To the best of our knowledge, Sahni has been a forthright interlocutor; he is a longtime Embassy contact and we respect his insights and analysis. Not knowing the actual source of the newer list would normally cast little doubt of its veracity because of our relationship with Sahni, but the oversight of Hafiz Saeed causes us some concern on the document's validity. Sahni responded to Poloff's surprise at the omission by suggesting it was an administrative error: "These things are drafted by semi-literate office workers who are just combining the inputs they receive. Senior officers and diplomats seldom even look at the finished product before they hand it over." He did, however, offer to go back to his source for the document for clarification. India's New "List of 35" Most Wanted Persons in Pakistan -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Begin text: ¶A. Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar: (Indian national) Bombay blasts ¶1993. Leader of Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: see C on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶B. Memon Ayub Abdul Razak: (Indian national) Conspiracy to cause bomb explosions in Bombay with intention to cause death. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: see F and G on "List of 20." This name appears to be an amalgam of the names of two wanted people, Ayub Memon and Abdul Razak End Note.) ¶C. Memon Ibrahim @ Tiger: (Indian national) Conspiracy to cause bomb explosions in Bombay with intention to cause death. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: see E on "List of 20." In official documents the GOI uses @ as "aka" or "alias." End Note.) ¶D. Shaikh Shakeel @ Chhota Shakeel: (Indian national) Involved in serious cases (of) arms and explosives. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: see D on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶E. Ibrahim Athar @ Ahmed Ali Mohammed Ali Sheikh (Pakistani national): Hijacking of IC-814 and murder of a passenger (1999). (NOTE: see I on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶F. Azhar Yusuf @ Moh. Salim (Pakistani national): Hijacking of IC-814 and murder of a passenger (1999). (NOTE: see L on "List of 20." "Moh." is a common abbreviation for "Mohammad." End Note.) ¶G. Mistri Zahur Ibrahim @ Bhola (Pakistani national): Hijacking of IC-814 and murder of a passenger (1999). (NOTE: see J on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶H. Sayeed Shahid Akhtar @ Doctor @ Moti Khalid (Pakistani NEW DELHI 00005239 003 OF 007 national): Hijacking of IC-814 and murder of a passenger (1999). (NOTE: see K on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶I. Shakir Md. @ Shankar @ Rajesh Gopal Verma @ Ram Gopal Verma @ Farooq Abdul Aziz Siddiqi (Pakistani national): Hijacking of IC-814 and murder of a passenger (1999). (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." "Md." is also a common abbreviation for "Mohammad." End Note.) ¶J. Ishaq Atta Hussein @ Ali Moosa (Indian national): Conspiracy to target Union Home Minister. Dawood Ibrahim Group. ). (NOTE: see N on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶K. Sagir Sabir Ali Shaikh (Indian national): Conspiracy to target Union Home Minister. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: see O on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶L. Maulana Mohamad Masood Azhar Alvi @ Maulana Masood Azhar @ Vali Adam Isa (Pakistani national): Principal accused Parliament attack (Dec. 13, 2001). Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed. (NOTE: see A on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶M. Mohd. Yusuf Shah @ Syed Salahuddin (Indian national): Terrorism in J&K. Supreme Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahedeen. (NOTE: see H on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶N. Gajinder Singh @ Gajinder Singh`Khalsa (Indian national): Hijacking of Indian Airlines Aircraft (1981). Leader of Dal Khalsa. (NOTE: see T on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶O. Lakhbir Singh @ Singh Lakhbir Rode @ Singh Lakhbir (Indian national): Terrorism in Punjab. Leader of ISYF (Rode). (NOTE: see S on "List of 20." ISYF stands for International Sikh Youth Federation. End Note.) ¶P. Paramjit Singh Panjwar @ Paramjit Pamma @ Gian Singh (Indian national): Terrorism in India. Leader of Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar). (NOTE: see R on "List of 20." ISYF stands for International Sikh Youth Federation. End Note.) ¶Q. Ranjit Singh @ Manpreet Singh @ Neeta (Indian national): Murder and terrorism in India. Leader of Khalistan Commando Force. (NOTE: see Q on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶R. Wadhawan Singh (Indian national): Murder of police officer in 1981. Conspiracy to murder Sardar Beant Singh, CM of Punjab. Conspiracy to cause explosions. Delhi Cinema Hall bombings. Leader of Babbar Khalsa International. (NOTE: see P on "List of 20." For more on the Delhi cinema bombings, see Ref 05 New Delhi 3846 and 05 New Delhi 4449. End Note.) ¶S. Anwar Ahmed Haji Jamal Theba (Indian national): Bomb explosions in Bombay. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶T. Anis Ibrahim Kaskar Shaikh (Indian national): Bomb explosions in Bombay with intention to cause death. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶U. Mohammed Ahmed Dosa (Indian national): Bomb explosions in Bombay with intention to cause death. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) NEW DELHI 00005239 004 OF 007 ¶V. Amanuliah Khan (Pakistani national): Murder & Conspiracy, Terrorist Activities in J&K. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶W. Aftab Batkl (Pakistani national): Fake Indian currency rackets. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶X. Abdul Rauf (Pakistani national): Hijacking of IC-814, abduction and murder. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶Y. Javed Patel @ Javed Chikna @ Javed Dawood Tailor (Indian national): Bomb explosions in Bombay. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) ¶Z. Karimullah Habib Shaikh (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and landing of arms and explosives in Shekhadi, District Raigargh, Maharashtra. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: May be identifiable with M on "List of 20." End Note.) AA. Slaim Abdul Gani Gazi (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India. Gave his car to the accused causing explosion at Lucky Petrol Pump, Near Shiv Sena Bhavan, Dadar. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) BB. Riyaz Abu Bakar Khatri (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and participating in landing and transportation of explosives, arms and ammunition from Shekhadi to Mumbai. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) CC. Munaf Abdul Majid Halari (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and purchase of three new scooters which were filled with Explosives. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) DD. Mohd. Talnur Mohd. Phansopkar Salim Mujahid (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and participated in weapons training in Pakistan for commission of terrorist acts. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) EE. Khan Bashir Ahmed Ainul Haq Khan (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and participated in weapons training in Pakistan for commission of terrorist acts. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) FF. Yakub Khan @ Yeda Yakoob (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and participated in weapons training in Pakistan for commission of terrorist acts. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) GG. Mohd. Shafi Memon @ Zariwala (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India. Purchase of vehicles for causing explosions in Bombay. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) HH. Irfan Ahmed Gulzar Chaugule (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and participated in weapons training NEW DELHI 00005239 005 OF 007 in Pakistan for commission of terrorist acts. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) II. Feroz Rashid Khan (Indian national): Causing terrorist acts in India and participation in landing and transportation of arms and ammunition at Dighi Jetty. Dawood Ibrahim Group. (NOTE: Does not appear on "List of 20." End Note.) End Text. India's Original "List of 20 Most Wanted Persons in Pakistan" -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Begin text: ¶A. Maulana Azhar Masood, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad, involved in the attack on India's Parliament on December 13, 2001. He is also wanted for an attack on the J&K State Legislative Assembly on October 1, 2001, in which 38 people were killed. ¶B. Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, co-founder of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, also involved in the attack on Parliament. India says he operates from Muridke town, near Lahore. ¶C. Dawood Ibrahim, Indian underworld don, who planned and financed 13 explosions in Mumbai in 1993 in which almost 300 people died. He is wanted in connection with cases of arms supply, counterfeiting, drugs trade, funding alleged criminals, murder and smuggling. India says he lives in Karachi. ¶D. Chhota Shakeel, a key associate of Ibrahim. Wanted for murder, extortion, kidnapping, blackmail of businessmen and film stars. India also alleges he is a top spy for the ISI, living in Karachi. ¶E. "Tiger" Ibrahim Memon, who executed the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He is wanted in cases of murder, extortion, kidnapping, terrorism, and smuggling arms and explosives. Memon, another key associate of Ibrahim, lives in Karachi and travels frequently to Dubai, according to the Indian list. ¶F. Ayub Memon, who executed the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He helped his brother Ibrahim Memon carry out the blasts. He is wanted in cases of terrorism and smuggling. India says he lives in Karachi. ¶G. Abdul Razzak, involved in the Mumbai blasts. He is wanted in cases of terrorism and arms smuggling. India says he lives in Karachi. ¶H. Syed Salahuddin, head of Hizb-ul-Mujahedeen, which has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on Indians security forces in J&K. India says he lives in Muzaffarabad. ¶I. Ibrahim Athar, an associate of Maulana Azhar Masood and one of the hijackers of IC-814 (December 1999 from Kathmandu, redirected to Kandahar from its original destination Delhi). He is a member of Jaish-e-Mohammad and is wanted for hijacking, kidnapping and murder. India says he lives in Bahawalpur. ¶J. Zahoor Ibrahim Mistri, a member of Harkat-ul-Ansar, which later changed its name to Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen. He is wanted NEW DELHI 00005239 006 OF 007 in connection with the IC-814 hijacking and in murder and kidnapping cases. The Indian list says he lives in Karachi. ¶K. Shahid Akhtar Sayed is wanted for the IC-814 hijacking and for kidnapping and murder. The Indians say he lives in Karachi. ¶L. Azhar Yusuf is wanted for the IC-814 hijacking and for kidnapping and murder. The Indians say he lives in Karachi. ¶M. Abdul Karim was involved in over 30 bomb blasts in Delhi and parts of Northern India in 1996-97. India says he is in Lahore. ¶N. Ishaq Atta Hussain, an associate of Dawood Ibrahim, is wanted in connection with a conspiracy to kill the then Indian Home Minister LK Advani. India says he lives in Karachi. ¶O. Sagir Sabir Ali Shaikh, an associate of Dawood Ibrahim, is also wanted in connection with a conspiracy to kill LK Advani. India says he lives in Karachi. ¶P. Wadhawan Singh Babbar, chief of Sikh terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International, which was involved in a terrorist-secessionist campaign in Indian Punjab in the 1980s. He is wanted in over a dozen cases of sedition, murder and in connection with the assassination of then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. India says he is in Lahore. ¶Q. Ranjit Singh Neeta, chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force, is wanted in cases of murder, bomb blasts and arms smuggling. India says he is in Lahore. ¶R. Paramjit Singh Panjwar, leader of the Khalistan Commando Force. He is wanted in more than a dozen cases of murder, treason, conspiracy and arms smuggling. India says he is in Lahore. ¶S. Lakhbir Singh Rode, leader of the International Sikh Youth Federation, is wanted in cases of arms smuggling, conspiracy to attack government leaders in Delhi and inciting religious hatred in Punjab. India says he is in Lahore. ¶T. Gajinder Singh, leader of the Sikh group Dal Khalsa, is involved in hijacking an Indian Airlines plane from Srinagar to Delhi in 1981. He was arrested by Pakistan after he hijacked the plane to Lahore and tried. India says he is in Lahore after his release from prison. End Text. Bio Notes: Ajai Sahni -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Dr. Ajai Sahni earned his M.Phil and PhD from Delhi University; his dissertation topic was "Democracy, Dissent, and the Right to Information." After a stint in academia -- the details of which he has not shared -- he entered journalism, writing for Delhi weeklies "Delhi Recorder," "Current," and "Surya." Sahni helped found the Institute for Conflict Management with KPS Gill in 1997; he is currently ICM's Executive Director. Within ICM, Sahni also performs NEW DELHI 00005239 007 OF 007 the following functions: -- Editor of the weekly e-mail terrorism information/assessment service "South Asia Intelligence Review" -- Executive Editor of "Faultlines," ICM's quarterly journal, since its inception in 1999 -- Executive Director of the South Asia Terrorism Portal (www.satp.org),since its 2000 launch -- Project Director of ICM's Database and Documentation Center on Conflict and Development in India's Northeast (Guwahati),supported by the Indian Council for Social Science Research -- Principal Investigator (Internal Security and Administration) for the Project on Planning and Development for India's Northeast, supported by the Canadian International Development Agency ¶9. (SBU) Sahni has also collaborated on the Project on Management of Insurgencies and the World Governance Survey, both under the auspices of the UN University. He jointly edited two books on terrorism with KPS Gill: "Terror and Containment: Perspectives on India's Security" and "The Global Threat of Terror: Ideological, Material, and Political Linkages." Sahni is extremely well read, and can quote literature, history, and political science -- including the works of Mao -- with ease. When asked to prioritize India's terrorism problems, he always cites the Naxalites -- with their strategic vision, their steady accumulation of territory, and their institutions that take the place of non-performing state functions -- as the most threatening to India's long-term stability. Sahni prefers green tea. ¶10. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) PYATT