Mumbai attackers may have used morphine

After the 59-hour battle for Mumbai's landmarks between terrorists and India's elite security forces ended, there was talk of the attackers having used drugs to see them through the grind.

Asked if the terrorists were under the influence of any drugs, Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor said he did not have any information. Investigating agencies added that only results obtained through forensic tests can reveal further.

The investigators had found syringes in all the three sites where the terrorists had engaged the security forces and are waiting for the forensic reports. Sources in the Intelligence Bureau, however, said that the most common drug used by terrorists is morphine.

The IB says that all Fidayeen attackers who are sent out on long missions such as the Mumbai attack are directed to carry Morphine. Doctors say that morphine can be easily injected into the body and is often used as a sedative and a pain-reliever.

That the terrorists were able to continue fighting despite being badly injured could be due to the intake of morphine, doctors added.

Apart from this there is also a cloudy feeling in the head that helps them remain calm, doctors added.

An NSG commando who fought the Taj battle said that one of the terrorists had lost two of his fingers in a grenade explosion on the second day of the operation. Despite this he continued to fight and we suspected that they were on some kind of drug, the commando had told rediff.com soon after the operation at the Taj hotel ended.

The IB also rubbished reports that said the terrorists had consumed alcohol reasoning that the terrorists were deeply religious people and hence unlikely to consume alcohol.

Investigating agencies in Mumbai say that they are trying to ascertain what drug the Mumbai terrorists were on. "Although at first we suspected that these men may have used LSD and cocaine, we will be able to get an accurate picture when the forensic test results are out," said an officer.

The IB added that as part of training, the recruits are put through a separate session on the usage of drugs. They are taught on how to take the drug and also the proportion is also mentioned to them. Doctors say that excessive use of drugs such as morphine can result in death.