More than two years after LeT operative David Headley's involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attack and other terror activities in India came to light, he, along with Lashkar founder Hafiz Saeed and two ISI officers, was charge-sheeted by the National Investigation Agency here on Saturday.
According to official sources, the charge sheet filed before a Special Patiala House Court, also named 26/11 attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Headley's accomplice, Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana, and al-Qaeda operative Illyas Kashmiri for waging war against the country and for offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Headley's handler Sajid Malik; the former Pakistani Army officer, Abdul Rehman Hashmi; and two officers believed to be working for Pakistani intelligence, Major Iqbal and Major Samir Ali, have also been named.
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The charge sheet was filed three days after the Indian government gave its approval to the NIA, which had registered a case against the 50-year-old Pakistani-American Headley and his accomplice Rana on November 12, 2009. The NIA added the other names at a later stage when investigation by Central security agencies showed a large set of people involved in terror activities against the country.
Both Headley and Rana are presently in the custody of United States authorities. Headley had entered into a plea bargain with the U.S.