Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) deputy chief Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, who is considered the mastermind in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, died due to a heart attack in Pakistan on Friday, media reports said.
Makki had been ill for the past few days and was undergoing treatment for high sugar levels at a private hospital in Lahore, reported India Today.
On November 4, 2010, the US Department of the Treasury designated Makki as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended.
According to the United Nations website, Makki was involved in raising funds, recruiting and radicalising youth to violence and planning attacks in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
He served as the head of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)’s political affairs.
He also served as head of LeT’s foreign relations department.
“He is (was) also a member of JUD’s Markazi (Central) Team and Daawati (proselytization) team,” read the UN website.
He was the brother-in-law of LeT Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
Abdul Rehman Makki was wanted by the Indian Government.
During Makki’s leadership role, LeT was responsible for several terror attacks:
Red Fort Attack: Six LeT terrorists had stormed Red Fort on 22 December 2000 and had opened indiscriminate fire on the security forces guarding the Fort.
Rampur Attack: Five LeT terrorists had attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Rampur on 01 January 2008 in which seven CRPF personnel and a rickshaw puller were killed.
26/11 Mumbai attack (26-29 November 2008): Most audacious attack by LeT in India. Ten LeT terrorists from Pakistan entered via Arabian Sea in Mumbai with pre-decided targets out of which Amir Ajmal Kasab was caught alive, rest were killed.
Karan Nagar, Srinagar attack (12-13 February 2018): LeT fidayeen (suicide squad) stormed into CRPF (23 Battalion) camp at Karan Nagar area of Srinagar in which one CRPF trooper was killed, and one policeman was injured.
Khanpora, Baramulla attack (30 May 2018): Three civilians were shot dead by LeT militants.
Srinagar attack (14 June 2018): Senior journalist and Editor in Chief of Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, and his two Personal Security Officers (PSOs) were shot by LeT terrorists.
Gurez/ Bandipora attack (7 August 2018): Four Army soldiers, including a Major, were killed as Army foiled a major infiltration bid by heavily armed LeT militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in Gurez Sector of Bandipora District, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistani government had arrested him on 15 May 2019.
He was kept under house arrest in Lahore.
As per US Reward for Justice website, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court convicted Makki in 2020 on one count of terrorism financing and sentenced him to prison.
About 26/11
The 2008 Mumbai attacks, also referred to as 26/11, were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamic terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks, lasting four days across Mumbai.
The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday, 26 November, and lasted until November 29, 2008. At least 174 people died, including nine attackers, and more than 300 were wounded.
Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier’s College.
There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai’s port area, and a taxi at Vile Parle.
By the early morning of November 28, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces.
On November 29, India’s National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers; it culminated in the death of the remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and ended the attacks.
