Handlers on Phone Ordered Mumbai Gunmen to Kill

"Keep your phone switched on," a handler instructs a gunman by phone in the midst of the Mumbai siege, "so that we can hear the gunfire."

This Nov. 26, 2008, file photo shows a gunman walking at the Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminal railway...

This Nov. 26, 2008, file photo shows a gunman walking at the Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminal railway station in Mumbai, India. The lone gunman to survive the Mumbai terror attacks was a petty street thug from a dusty Pakistani outpost who was systematically transformed into a highly trained suicide guerrilla over 18 months in jihadist camps, India's top investigator into the attacks said Saturday. Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, 21, was one of the 10 men who came ashore on small rubber raft Nov. 26, divided into five pairs and attacked some of Mumbai's best known and most beloved landmarks.

(AP Photo/Mumbai Mirror, Sebastian D'souza)

The ruthless commands come from a transcript of phone calls Indian authorities say they intercepted during the attacks in November. India says the men issuing orders, reprimands and encouragement to the young gunmen were Pakistani-based militants directing the attacks by mobile phone.

The men on the phone were confident, direct — and brutal.

"We have three foreigners, including women," a gunman said into the phone from the Oberoi Hotel where hostages had been captured.

"Kill them," replied the handler. Gunshots then rang out, followed by cheering that could be heard over the phone.

"Inflict the maximum damage," they said.

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The transcripts were part of a dossier of evidence India has given Pakistan this week that India says definitively proves that the siege that killed 164 people was launched from across the border. India says the 10 gunmen were all Pakistani and has blamed the Pakistani-based militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The Mumbai transcripts were translated from Punjabi into English by Indian authorities and obtained by the newspaper The Hindu. The newspaper gave the transcripts to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

They show that the 10 gunmen, who allegedly were trained in Lashkar camps, received instructions throughout the siege.

"If you are still threatened, then don't saddle yourself with the burden of the hostages. Immediately kill them," a handler tells a team of gunmen who had seized a Mumbai Jewish center, according to the transcript.

Six Jewish foreigners, including a rabbi and his wife, were killed inside the building.

The handlers' tone is that of a firm teacher alternately dispensing encouragement, criticism, and guidance. Many exchanges, however, were just swift commands that showed the real decisions were being made far from the besieged Mumbai targets.