‘Gentlemen, we have a hunch that one of the five terrorists who will come to Mumbai is a man known just as Babar. This is because he has had the experience of operating here in the past too. CTC has a sketch of him, based on witness accounts. Babar is LeT’s Nepal-based commander whose job it is to execute, coordinate and support terror attacks in India,’ said Shekhar.

‘Babar is the one who orchestrated the IIS&T attack in Mumbai, then the attacks on IMA and the BVP headquarters in Pune. For the IIS&T attack, he used the cover name of Shrikant Joshi. We don’t know if Babar is an Indian or a Pakistani, but in any case he must have a Pakistani passport. I will ensure that Babar’s sketch is sent immediately to all the check posts that fall on the routes taken for Mumbai,’ he added.

‘Terrific, please provide us with copies of Babar’s sketch and any other leads you may have as we proceed,’ said Narula.

A pair of military-grade binoculars with night-vision capability by his side, Deshmukh was waiting with three others inside a black Tavera SUV, with tinted glasses, on National Highway 48, which connects western Gujarat with Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra. It was around 3 a.m. on 16 March.

The officers had been there since 15 March, taking turns in twelve-hour shifts to keep a watch on the vehicles coming from the Bhilad checkpoint in Valsad district in Gujarat. Deshmukh’s team had taken position near Talasari, which was barely eight kilometres from Bhilad.

Deshmukh’s phone started buzzing. It was Shekhar. It must be about something urgent, thought Deshmukh.

‘The registration number has been confirmed. They are using a Punjab licence plate, number PB-03-MN-6867. It’s an Eicher van, colour deep green,’ Shekhar informed him.

‘The Bhilad check post has CCTV cameras and Babar has been identified. He is sitting next to the driver of the van. There are three other youths in the back seat. Be careful, and don’t hesitate to shoot them first, Mr Deshmukh – though catching them alive will give us tremendous leads.’

‘Understood, sir. We will do our best,’ Deshmukh said.

After crossing the Bhilad checkpost, Babar told Saquib to pull over to the side of the highway. He got out of the van, saying, ‘I will carry on in a cab, around 500 metres ahead of you, to alert you if there is any danger. If you see the emergency lights of my cab go on, you should stop and take a diversion or a U-turn, whatever may be possible at that point,’ he said.

The men in the van waited as Babar hired a white Wagon R cab from a nearby taxi stand and drove away, taking care, however, to stay about 500 metres ahead of the Eicher van.