David Headley, the terror suspect arrested by FBI, will soon be charged separately by Mumbai Police for allegedly conducting recce of targets hit by Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist in the metropolis in last year’s audacious attacks.
The decision to file a supplementary chargesheet in the 26/11 case comes after the FBI approached the Chicago court in the US and gave details about the reconnaissance missions carried out by the American national at the behest of Lashker.
Official sources said the Indian investigators had enough proof of Headley, who is of Pakistani origin, conducting surveillance of targets in Mumbai for more than two years preceding the November 26, 2008 terrorist attack and all evidences found during the probe on him would be incorporated in the supplementary charge sheet.
However, the additional charge sheet will be filed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch only after Indian investigators get access to interrogate Headley, arrested by FBI and now under US custody.
Accused of taking pictures
During his multiple visits to India, Headley is accused of taking pictures and making videotapes of various places, including those targeted on 26/11 by terrorists belong to LeT.
After each trip Headley undertook to India between September 2006 and July 2008, he is believed to have returned to Pakistan, met other co-conspirators and provided them with photographs, videos and oral descriptions of various locations.
Headley’s name did not feature in the charge sheet filed by Mumbai police in connection with the terror attacks.
The charges filed in the Federal Court in Chicago allege that Headley conducted extensive surveillance of targets in Mumbai for more than two years preceding the November 26, 2008, terrorist attack.
Investigations into the 26/11 terror strike led the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin who allegedly helped in taking pictures and video filming of hotels including the Taj Mahal and Oberoi. The two were taken to custody from two different jails in Uttar Pradesh and have been booked in the case.
Duo face charges
The duo, both Indian nationals, face charges in other terror related incidents in the country, conspiracy to wage war against the country and helping terror outfit LeT in carrying out the daring attack in the megapolis.
The crime branch is still investigating as to how the recce of Nariman House, a Jewish prayer centre located in a narrow lane in South Mumbai’s Colaba, was done.
According to the chargesheet filed by FBI in the Chicago court against Headley, the terror suspect, who received training in Lashker camps, conspired with the organisation to carry out extensive surveillance including making videos of targets like the Taj Mahal hotel, the Oberoi hotel, the Leopold Cafe, the Nariman House, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station.
According to the FBI, Headley had not only scouted the targets hit by Lashker terrorists but also, in or around March 2008 discussed the potential landing sites for a team of attackers who would arrive by sea in Mumbai.
In or around March 2008, Headley was instructed to take boat trips in and around the Mumbai harbour and take surveillance video, which he allegedly did during his stay in India starting in April 2008, the FBI said, adding that he later went to Pakistan to finalise the operation to target Mumbai.
