Mumbai terror attacks prime witness missing, police clueless

Mumbai, Jan 13 : The sudden and mysterious disappearance of a prime witness in the Mumbai terror attacks has caused a major embarrassment to police and intelligence agencies.

A high-ranking police source said that a major effort is on to track down Anita Rajendra Uddaiya (47), who had seen the group of 10 terrorists landing at the Badhwar Park bay in Colaba Nov 26.

Uddaiya has been reported 'missing' since Sunday and her family members have lodged a complaint with the Cuffe Parade police station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Vishwas Nangre-Patil Tuesday evening confirmed that a missing person complaint has been received by the police. He, however, declined to elaborate on the matter.

Uddaiya was the first to see the terrorists landing from a motorized rubber dinghy and she even had a verbal exchange with them.

She was taken to the government-run Sir JJ Hospital to identify the bodies of the nine terrorists who were killed during the 60-hour long operation by security forces.

The Mumbai terror attacks at 13 locations left over 170 people dead, including police and security personnel, and 300 others injured.

Of the 10 terrorists who carried out the attacks, only one - Mohammed Ajmal Amir, alias Kasab - was nabbed by the police and is now in detention.

--IANS