Headley Names Ishrat Jahan LeT Agent, “Very Happy” After 26/11
Follow the latest updates from day 4 of David Headley’s depositions before the Mumbai special court.
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Significant Confessions on Day 4
- The RBI refused to give him permission to open a business account.
- Headley used code language while exchanging emails with Tahawwur Rana, Major Iqbal and Sajid Mir.
- Ishrat Jahan named before the Mumbai court, Headley claimed she was an LeT operative.
- Muzammil Bhatt was the head of Headley’s wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba before Sajid Mir.
- The LeT has a women’s wing. Abu Aiman Mazhar was in charge of it.
- Muzzammil Bhatt had planned to attack Akshardham temple in Gujarat, following the destruction of Babri Masjid.
- Headley watched Indian media’s coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on his laptop in Rawalpindi.
- Sajid Mir & Abu Khafa were talking over the phone with the attackers from a control room in Karachi.
- Headley confessed that Abu Khafa’s nephew was one of the ten attackers.
- David Headley confirmed that there was a separate LeT naval wing.
- Abdul Aziz, charged for his involvement in the Bengaluru terror attacks is “the LeT guy.”
- Headley said that Sajid Mir and he were “very happy” post the attacks.
Deposition Adjourned
Headley’s deposition has been adjourned for the day.
Ilyas Kashmiri Gave Headley “Shaabashi”
- Ilyas Kashmiri was very happy about the 26/11 terror attack and gave Headley “shaabashi.”
- David Headley admitted to the court that he knew of the Jund al-Fida; he defined it as an “army of fidayeens” established and headed by Ilyas Kashmiri.
- He also added that Captain Kurram of Pakistan Army, working in the Special Service group was unhappy with the army and consequently joined LeT.
Jahan a Terrorist: Escape Route for the BJP?
Sandeep Dixit of the Congress said: “Many people said it was a deal that was made. Headley will name Jahan as a terrorist, needs far more probing; it’s suspicious.”
S Pathan, Pranesh Pillai’s lawyer has said: “This is an attempt to mislead nation, so that BJP leaders aren’t made the accused in the case.”
Abdul Aziz is “The LeT Guy”
When asked if he knew Abdul Aziz, charged for his involvement in the Bengaluru terror attacks, Headley said that he did know him. “He’s the LeT guy,” he said.
Headley said that Abu Anas was Sajid Mir’s assistant. He was a party to the criminal conspiracy of 26/11 terror attacks.
When he was shown a photograph of Ilyas Kashmiri, Headley recognised him as a member of Al-Qaeda.
The LeT Has a Naval Wing
When asked by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, David Headley confirmed that there was a separate LeT naval wing.
Abu Khafa’s Nephew One of the Attackers: Headley
Headley confessed that Abu Khafa’s nephew was one of the ten 26/11 attackers.
He met Abu Khafa in 2003 when he was a course instructor. Khafa later became Headley’s trainer.
Headley Watched the Media Coverage of 26/11 in Rawalpindi
Headley said that Sajid Mir showed him Indian media’s coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on his laptop in Rawalpindi.
Sajid Mir & Abu Khafa were talking over the phone with the 26/11 attackers from a control room in Karachi.
Post Destruction of Babri Masjid, Bhatt Planned to Attack Akshardham Temple in Gujarat
Muzzammil Bhatt had planned to attack Akshardham temple in Gujarat, following the destruction of Babri Masjid.
He also claimed to know Abu Khafa, who is LeT’s second-in-command, after Lakhvi. He met Abu Khafa near Lahore in Pakistan at a meeting. Hafiz and Lakhvi were also present at the meeting.
The LeT Had a Women’s Wing: Headley
David Headley also confirmed to the court that there was a women’s wing in the LeT. Abu Aiman Mazhar was in charge of the women’s wing.
Muzammil Bhatt was the Former Head of Headley’s Group
Muzammil Bhatt was the head of Headley’s wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba before Sajid Mir.
David Headley Names Ishrat Jahan Before Mumbai Court
David Headley named Ishrat Jahan before the Mumbai court and claimed she was an LeT operative. Headley had initially denied the involvement of a woman to Special Public Prosecutor Ujjawal Nikam, but named Jahan later in court.
Headley claimed that Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi told him about the botched operation in Gujarat. The objective of the operation was to attack policemen at a checkpost. An LeT agent named Ishrat Jahan was involved, he added.
I Used Code Language to Communicate: Headley
Headley confessed to using code language while exchanging emails with Tahawwur Rana, Major Iqbal and Sajid Mir. He also added that he used two to three mobile numbers while he was in India, between 2006 and 2009.
He provided photocopies of his passport to the service provider to obtain and activate the numbers.
Headley Wanted to Shut Shop Post Attacks
RBI Refused to Allow Headley to Open an Account
Deposing before the court, David Headley said that the Reserve Bank of India refused to give him permission to open a business account.
2008: Headley Granted Extension of Mumbai Office License
On July 16, 2008, Headley applied for an extension of his Mumbai office licence to continue to stay in the premises. The extension was granted.
Headley Received Funds from Dr Tahawwur Rana
David Headley, deposing before Mumbai court, said:
- I opened an office in Mumbai’s Tardeo AC market area on September 14, 2006.
- Tahawwur Rana visited Mumbai before the attack and I advised him to return to the US, so that he wouldn’t be in any danger.
- Before my visit to India, I received $25,000 from Major Iqbal and 40,000 Pakistani rupees from Sajid Mir.
Major Iqbal gave me counterfeit Indian currency 2-3 times.
An application was submitted to Reserve Bank of India to open a business account in India with signatures of Raymond Sanders
India to Step Up Pressure on Pakistan
Sources have confirmed to CNN-IBN that India will step up the pressure on Pakistan to act on the evidence Headley has provided in court.
Day 4 Depositions Begin
David Headley’s deposition before Mumbai court begins via video link.
Headley’s deposition was adjourned on Wednesday owing to technical glitches which interfered with the video conferencing.
Confessions on Day 2
- Abdul Rehman alias Major Pasha is a retired Pakistan Army General.
- Major Pasha was associated with the LeT, then joined al-Qaeda.
- ISI told Headley to infiltrate Indian army, gather intel & recruit Indian spies.
- 2003: Headley met JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar in South Lahore.
- 2006: Met Major Iqbal for the first time at a house in Lahore. A colonel from Pak Army was also present.
- Sept 2006: Arrived for the first time in Mumbai from Karachi, Pakistan.
- Headley stayed at Taj Hotel from 14-28 September 2006.
- Stayed as a paying guest near Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.
- Jan 2008: Headley’s wife, Faiza, filed a complaint in Pakistan against him for suspecting terrorist activities.
- LeT plotted 26/11 attack, in conjuction with the ISI.
- Headley asks Hafiz Saeed, Lakhvi to ‘legally challenge’ US’ ban on Lashkar.
- Before challenging US’ ban on Lashkat in court, Lakhvi consulted the ISI.
- Nov 2007: Meeting in Muzaffarabad with Sajid Mir, Abu Khafa and Headley.
- Nov 2007: Attack on Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai finalised.
- ISI provided financial, moral and military support to the LeT.
- Headley was led to understand that Brigadier Riyaz is a handler for Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Confessions on Day 1
- Headley carried out the LeT’s work on the directions of Hafiz Saeed.
- Headley confessed to having visited 5-6 militant training camps in Pakistan. He attended Daura-e-Suffa, Daura-e-Amma, Daura-e-Khasa and Daura-e-Ribat leadership courses, during the course of which he met Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed.
- Two attempts were made to attack Mumbai before the 26/11 attacks: David Headley in court.
- Headley told the court that he had a “general idea” about the 26/11 plan. He also confessed that he visited Pakistan frequently.
- Apart from Mumbai, Headley was sent out to recce the Vice President’s house and the CBI office.
- Arms for the 26/11 attack were smuggled into India by a man from the Khyber area.
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