Headley’s ‘Ishrat Jahan Was LeT Operative’ Comment Sparks a Row

Headley names Ishrat Jahan as an LeT operative in court; her sister, lawyer & political parties react.

David Headley (left), deposing before a Mumbai court, named Ishrat Jahan as an LeT operative. (Photo: Altered by The Quint)

In his deposition before a Mumbai court, David Headley said that Ishrat Jahan Raza, the 19-year-old girl, killed in 2004 in what the CBI had concluded was a fake encounter case, was, in fact, a member of the women’s wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Manish Tewari, of the Congress party says, that while Headley’s claims must be investigated, the CBI had concluded that the encounter was, in fact, fake.

Vrinda Grover, who is representing the Jahan family in court, insists that Ishrat Jahan had no terror links. She said that Headley’s statement is “extremely manipulative” and cannot be “treated as evidence” as per Indian law. A judicial enquiry, the Gujarat High Court and the CBI all concluded that the encounter was fake.

Judicial enquiry, the Gujarat High Court and the CBI all concluded that the encounter was fake. She was taken into custody and murdered in cold blood.

<b>Vrinda Grover, Lawyer</b>

Ishrat’s sister said that her sister was innocent and Headley’s statement was untrue.

My sister is innocent. Headley is lying. He is a terrorist, how does his word count?

<b>Musarrat Jahan, Ishrat’s Sister</b>

BJP leader, Nalin Kohli, added that although Headley had made similar statements in 2013, “there was no attempt to accept the truth as it was.”

BJP spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain, said that Headley’s revelations have vindicated the BJP, which came under fire for the incident in Gujarat. The Congress and Sonia Gandhi must apologise, he said.

Former Home Secretary GK Pillai that he cannot be certain that Ishrat Jahan was a LeT operative and chose to give her the benefit of doubt. Pillai was Home Secretary between 2009 and 2011. Two affidavits were filed by the ministry in the Gujarat High Court, the first of which named Jahan and three others as LeT terrorists.

You must have heard what David Headley has just said in Court, that Ishrat Jahan was a suicide bomber. Tell me, will the accusing political parties now apologise to the nation for trying to fool the people?

Home Minister Rajanath Singh

The Ishrat Jahan encounter case is an ongoing criminal case in Gujarat. The case has led many accusations on the BJP leaders. The incident took place on 15 June 2004 and involved encounter killings of Ishrat Jahan Raza, a 19-year-old girl from Mumbra, Maharashtra, and three men, Pranesh Pillai (alias Javed Gulam Sheikh), Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar, who were allegedly linked to terrorists, by officers of the Ahmedabad Police Crime Branch.

Meanwhile former Gujarat DIG DN Vanzara under whom the encounter was staged defended his move in 2004.

It was termed as a fake encounter when it was a real encounter. All agencies &amp; people saying encounter was fake should know that it has to be proved in court. Investigating Officer’s word that encounter was fake is not word from Gita, Bible or Quran.

<b>Vanzara </b>

Follow The Quint’s updates from Headley’s deposition before the Mumbai court here.

Headley’s revelation has sparked off a fresh row as the BJP says they have been vindicated, as Ishrat Jahan’s encounter had been labelled as ‘fake’ and politicised by the Congress. The Congress on the other hand said that the Indian law does not give authority for encounters.

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Also read: David Headley Says Ishrat Jahan Was a LeT Suicide Bomber