Key witness in the 26/11 case goes 'missing'

Mumbai, Aug 28 (PTI) A key witness in the 26/11 attacks
case who had deposed against accused Faheem Ansari and
Sabauddin Ahmed at the trial failed to appear before the
court Friday with the prosecution saying that he was
"missing".

The witness, Nurudin Shaikh, Thursday told the court
that the accused -- Faheem and Sabauddin -- had met him in
Nepal and in his presence they discussed about the maps of
some locations in Mumbai, which were later targeted by
militants during the November 26 attacks last year.

The court had called the witness Friday for
cross-examination at 11 AM but he failed to turn up.

Special public prosecutor Ujjawal Nikam told the court
that crime branch officials had gone to Goregaon residence of
the witness to fetch him but his wife had said that Shaikh had
left home early morning, saying that he has to go to the
court.

"This is a serious matter," judge M L Tahaliyani
observed and said he would decide later on what steps the
court should take in the matter.

Nikam also said that the identity of the witness had
been kept secret earlier and was disclosed to the defence
lawyer only yesterday for cross-examination.

According to crime branch, the witness is a childhood
friend of Faheem and is staying in the same locality where
Fahim stayed in the city.

Faheem and Sabauddin, both Indian nationals, are
facing trial along with Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Amir
Kasab.

Shaikh Thursday had told the court that maps of some
locations in Mumbai were made by the duo at the instance of
wanted accused Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. MORE PTI SVS
DDC


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