Unknown to Babar and Abu-Lakhvi, the Indian counter-terror and intelligence agencies were tracking their conversations and activities, and those of their men who had arrived in Nepal in a staggered manner to be sheltered by Babar at Lashkar accommodations. The satellite phone conversations between Babar, his Lashkar handlers and the latter’s ISI contacts were monitored by the CTC and its external counterpart, the R&IC. A discreet watch had been kept on the movements of Babar and his associates in Nepal. The CTC had been on the trail of Sohrab and his truck from the time he had returned with the two fidayeen, Imran and Shabbir, from Kashmir. This was because Imran and Shabbir were under the watch of the counter-terror units of Kashmir police and the CTC Srinagar station. When Sohrab contacted the two fidayeen, it brought him under the scanner too. For the CTC, it was time to mop up Lashkar’s entire Nepal team with the help of R&IC’s impressive assortment of local agents who had been keeping a watch on the Lashkar hideouts.

The CTC first picked up Sohrab, then Janbaaz, Imran, Shabbir and finally Babar. Babar was baffled to see the CTC team led by Shekhar. He knew his time was up but his ego was bruised. He had a question for Shekhar.

‘Sir, welcome to Nepal!’ he said. ‘Be good enough to tell me where I slipped, which in turn gave you the break that you never got before. I have always been a step ahead of you amateurs otherwise! Today, I have your hands on my collars.’

‘Nice question, terrorist! But ponder over it behind bars; you won’t come out any time soon!’

‘Hope you liked my fankari in carrying out complex operations,’ he chuckled.

‘Shut up and pack up. Prepare for the journey back home.’

‘The number of casualties, however, could have been better at IIS&T. What do you think, janaab?’ It was rankling Babar that he did not prove good enough to stay away from the long arm of the Indian security authorities.

‘Let’s hope you are as chatty when I interrogate you in India.’

With the capture of Babar, who had been behind at least five major LeT attacks since 2005, the CTC could breathe easy for some time. He had been an expert in selecting the target, planning the attack to the last detail and ensuring the escape of the attackers and himself. But Shekhar knew that in the business of counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism, one could never bet on the next moment.

For instance, it was not clear yet who was behind the recurring blasts, targeting places of Hindu religious significance in India, since the 2005 Dashashwamedh Ghat blast in Varanasi. It was also not very clear who had been bombing places of religious significance to Muslims since the September 2006 blasts in Malegaon, a textile hub in Maharashtra.