Mumbai attacks: Mastermind of 26/11, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi arrested in Pakistan

New Delhi: The mastermind of the barbaric 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and operational commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was arrested on Saturday in Pakistan. According to reports, Lakhvi was held on the charges of "terror financing" in an operation by Counter-Terror Department of Punjab. 

Reportedly, Lakhvi was on a bail since 2008 in the Mumbai attack case. An official statement of CTD was released quoting his arrest on Saturday. It read, "Following an intelligence-based operation conducted by the CTD Punjab, proscribed organisation LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was arrested on charges of terrorism financing."

However, the place of arrest has not been mentioned by CTD in the statement.

Official sources also revealed that Lakhvi's trial will be held before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore. 

It is worth noting that Lakhvi is believed to have led several terror operations in Indian occupied Kashmir. He has also been on India's Most Wanted list.

A spokesperson of CTD informed that Lakhvi was extending financial help to terrorists. He has even been found guilty of running a dispensary to generate funds for the purpose of diverting the same to terrorists.

The 61-year-old terrorist has been named a global terrorist by United Nations (UN) under the 'UN Security Council Resolution' ever since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. As an LeT commander, he has also from time to time engaged in other notorious attacks.

Notably, India had officially declared Rehman's involvement in the 2008 attacks on December 3 of the same year. In addition, he has been detained from Pakistan for six years before his subsequent release in April 2015. He is also said to have paid hundreds of thousands of rupees to the family of Ajmal Kasab, in return for his involvement in Mumbai attacks. 

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks of 2008 is one of the deadliest terror attacks in India in which 10 heavily-armed Lashkar-e-Taiba militants who killed over 166 people and injured around 300 others.

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