Cops believe terror suspect studied vital installations and recruited cadres for Lashkar-e-Taiba during his stay in India
Cops believe terror suspect studied vital installations and recruited cadres for Lashkar-e-Taiba during his stay in India
David Coleman Headley (49), arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation last month for allegedly plotting terror strikes across India, is believed to have kept in touch with sleeper modules of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the city.
The police are probing whether Headley was involved in terror activities, including the 26/11 terror strikes during his stay in Mumbai.
According to Home Ministry sources, "Headley visited Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Agra and Pune and did a recee of vital installations in the cities, including the National Defence College in Delhi.
It is possible that he established sleeper cells and was recruiting cadres for the LeT."
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Nobody sent abroad
Pakistan-born American citizen Headley ran a visa facilitation agency named Immigrant Law Centre in AC Market in Tardeo.
However, investigation agencies have confirmed that Headley and his associate Tahawwur Rana (48) did not send any Indian out of the country through the agency.
"Records at the Immigrant Law Centre indicate that though he tried to build a sleeper cell in the city, nobody was sent to Pakistan, Bangladesh or any foreign country," said a police officer, requesting anonymity.
Joint Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria said, "The Crime Branch team has visited the building in Tardeo.
Headley had visited Mumbai on several occasions and we have details about where he stayed and for how long."
Other Visa Agencies
Rana, a Chicago-based Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, too ran a visa agency First World Immigration Services on Devon Avenue in Chicago and in New York and Toronto.
Headley and Rana even placed advertisements in four newspapers in Mumbai and Kochi days before the 26/11 terror attacks.
They offered to help plumbers and electricians preferably ex-serviceman with job opportunities in the US and Canada.
Woman from Colaba bakery questioned for 9 hrs
After Bollywood actors Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut, a 45-year-old woman associated with Theobroma, a bakery in Colaba, is under the scanner for her alleged links with David Coleman Headley.
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In the wee hours, the woman was interrogated by the National Investigation Agency for over nine hours, say sources.
Rumours were abuzz that Headley was a regular visitor at the bakery and would spend hours hanging out with the woman. However, it is unclear if the woman is a patron or is working with the bakery.
According to an employee of an adjacent shop, the bakery shutters were pulled down a few hours earlier than usual.
However, he did not confirm about any person who resembled Headley being a regular at the eatery.
Did you know?
David Headley changed his name from Dawood Gilani in 2006. He said he did it to avoid suspicion when he travelled
Rs 20,000
The amount he paid in cash to place ads in newspapers
10
The number of days Headley was in Mumbai in November 2008
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