New Delhi:
It's now clear to the Indian government that David Headley and Tahawwur Rana were part of the terrorist team behind 26/11. They were also part of a larger conspiracy for new and multiple attacks in India.
During their trips to India, Rana and Headley collected photographs and video footage of the four places that were targeted during 26/11. These were shared with Ajmal Kasab and the nine other Pakistani terrorists who executed the attacks in Mumbai. Headley had stayed at both the Taj and the Trident.
Intelligence sources tell NDTV it's clear that both Headley and Rana were in touch with the handlers who instructed Kasab and the other terrorists during 26/11. It's not yet clear whether Rana and Headley themselves functioned as handlers during the attacks. What is confirmed is that Rana and Headley were in Pakistan during 26/11; Rana left Mumbai just five days before 26/11 after a three-week stay in the city. (At a glance: The evidence so far)
The Pakistani government has not commented on the latest revelation that Headley and Rana were in Pakistan during 26/11. Both of them left Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks on December 7, 2009.
Headley and Rana were arrested in Chicago last month by the FBI for planning terror attacks against India and Denmark. Emails intercepted by the FBI showed that the two men were in regular touch with top commanders of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). (Watch: How FBI nailed Rana, Headley)
Since then India has formed 20 teams to re-trace the steps of Headley and Rana as they crisscrossed India, surveying potential terror targets, including nuclear plants, and recruiting candidates as terrorists under the guise of an immigration agency that was owned by Rana. (Read/Watch: India's nuclear centres on alert)
During multiple trips to Mumbai, both men surveyed all four places that were targeted on 26/11: the Taj, the Trident, the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), and Nariman House. Headley stayed at the Taj and the Trident in 2007, and rented a flat in Breach Candy close to the CST station in 2008, while Rana stayed at a guesthouse in Mumbai.
They also travelled to Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Lucknow, Agra, Kochi, Surat, and Ahmedabad, posing as immigration agents. Headley visited the Osho Ashram in Pune last year, and again in March this year. (Read: Osho Ashram | Pics: Headley trail | Read: Headley travel and stay)
On Tuesday, the Delhi Police has found that in March, Headley visited two cybercafes in Delhi's Paharganj before leaving for Pakistan. The Delhi Police is going through the registers for both cybercafes for more information.
So how did Rana and Headley manage visas for their various trips to India? External Affairs Minister SM Krishna says "All these issues are going to be looked into very carefully from the point-of-view of security angle and perhaps in the days to come, you might see more on this." Privately, officials admit that it's worrying that Rana and Headley did not catch the attention of either immigration or other officials. In the beginning, they travelled between Delhi and Pakistan via Colombo or Dubai. Later, they were more daring, flying directly between India and Pakistan.
The National Investigating agency (NIA) will question Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist caught during the 26/11 attacks, with photos of Headley and Rana. (Also Read: My father sold me to Lashkar, says Kasab)
Meanwhile, Indian intelligence officials are in Canada to gather more information on Rana, since he's a Canadian citizen. (Who is: David Headley I Tahawwur Rana)
The Mumbai Police confirms that Mahesh Bhatt's son, who knew Headley well, came to them voluntarily, offering information on Headley. Bhatt claims he met Headley at a gym where he worked as a fitness instructor. Speaking to NDTV, Rakesh Maria, the Joint Commissioner of the Mumbai Police, commented, "At this point, Rahul Bhatt is a witness."
Also, late on Tuesday evening India handed over another dossier on 26/11 to Pakistan.
During their trips to India, Rana and Headley collected photographs and video footage of the four places that were targeted during 26/11. These were shared with Ajmal Kasab and the nine other Pakistani terrorists who executed the attacks in Mumbai. Headley had stayed at both the Taj and the Trident.
Intelligence sources tell NDTV it's clear that both Headley and Rana were in touch with the handlers who instructed Kasab and the other terrorists during 26/11. It's not yet clear whether Rana and Headley themselves functioned as handlers during the attacks. What is confirmed is that Rana and Headley were in Pakistan during 26/11; Rana left Mumbai just five days before 26/11 after a three-week stay in the city. (At a glance: The evidence so far)
The Pakistani government has not commented on the latest revelation that Headley and Rana were in Pakistan during 26/11. Both of them left Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks on December 7, 2009.
Headley and Rana were arrested in Chicago last month by the FBI for planning terror attacks against India and Denmark. Emails intercepted by the FBI showed that the two men were in regular touch with top commanders of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). (Watch: How FBI nailed Rana, Headley)
Since then India has formed 20 teams to re-trace the steps of Headley and Rana as they crisscrossed India, surveying potential terror targets, including nuclear plants, and recruiting candidates as terrorists under the guise of an immigration agency that was owned by Rana. (Read/Watch: India's nuclear centres on alert)
During multiple trips to Mumbai, both men surveyed all four places that were targeted on 26/11: the Taj, the Trident, the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), and Nariman House. Headley stayed at the Taj and the Trident in 2007, and rented a flat in Breach Candy close to the CST station in 2008, while Rana stayed at a guesthouse in Mumbai.
They also travelled to Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Lucknow, Agra, Kochi, Surat, and Ahmedabad, posing as immigration agents. Headley visited the Osho Ashram in Pune last year, and again in March this year. (Read: Osho Ashram | Pics: Headley trail | Read: Headley travel and stay)
On Tuesday, the Delhi Police has found that in March, Headley visited two cybercafes in Delhi's Paharganj before leaving for Pakistan. The Delhi Police is going through the registers for both cybercafes for more information.
So how did Rana and Headley manage visas for their various trips to India? External Affairs Minister SM Krishna says "All these issues are going to be looked into very carefully from the point-of-view of security angle and perhaps in the days to come, you might see more on this." Privately, officials admit that it's worrying that Rana and Headley did not catch the attention of either immigration or other officials. In the beginning, they travelled between Delhi and Pakistan via Colombo or Dubai. Later, they were more daring, flying directly between India and Pakistan.
The National Investigating agency (NIA) will question Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist caught during the 26/11 attacks, with photos of Headley and Rana. (Also Read: My father sold me to Lashkar, says Kasab)
Meanwhile, Indian intelligence officials are in Canada to gather more information on Rana, since he's a Canadian citizen. (Who is: David Headley I Tahawwur Rana)
The Mumbai Police confirms that Mahesh Bhatt's son, who knew Headley well, came to them voluntarily, offering information on Headley. Bhatt claims he met Headley at a gym where he worked as a fitness instructor. Speaking to NDTV, Rakesh Maria, the Joint Commissioner of the Mumbai Police, commented, "At this point, Rahul Bhatt is a witness."
Also, late on Tuesday evening India handed over another dossier on 26/11 to Pakistan.
