Mumbai: As a National Investigating Agency team landed here to probe the activities of David Headley and Tahawwur Hassan Rana--both arrested by the FBI on terror charges, some states were carrying out their probe to ascertain the footprints of the duo who have links with Lashker-e-Taiba.
An NIA team arrived in the metropolis and started recording the statements of various people who have been in touch with Headley during his frequent visits to the metropolis, official sources said.
They said the NIA team would also examine and try and procure as well as retrieve the CCTV footages, in case deleted, from various hotels of the metropolis where the duo had visited. Both Headley and Rana were arrested by FBI last month for plotting terror strikes inside and outside the US.
As per latest reports NIA raided places in Bandra, Goregaon and Khar in Mumbai along with Trident Oberoi Hotel.
According to sources, Headley had conducted recce of the Nariman House where he posed as a Jew.
Earlier, investigations into Headley’s involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks revealed that he had stayed in the Hotel Taj twice in the year 2007.
During the Mumbai terror attacks last year Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists had also attacked Trident-Oberoi besides Hotel Taj, Nariman House, Cama Hospital and Leopold Café.
Gujarat as well as Kerala Police were also finding out the authenticity of the reports that Headley had visited to these two states.
Gujarat probe
"We had some information about that (Headley’s visit) and we are working on it. Headley had come for a couple of days with one of his
accomplices to Ahmedabad....that information seems to be
almost confirmed," Director General of Police S S Khadwavala
said.
He said that they are yet to receive any official information in this regard from the Central security agencies. "Our anti-terrorist squad and other police officials are investigating into the visit," he further said.
On Headley having any local support here, the DGP said,
"Until and unless there is local support, no terrorist can
operate."
In the backdrop of Headley`s several visits to India
between 2006 and 2009, the Centre has issued alerts to five
states, including Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, as a
precautionary measure.
During investigations, it was found that Headley had
visited Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Agra and Delhi and done a
recce of vital installations in other cities.
Headley (49) was arrested last month by FBI for allegedly
hatching a conspiracy with LeT to carry out strikes inside and
outside the US.
The DGP has formed a four-member team, on the directions of the state Home Ministry, to probe the alleged network of David Headley in the state. All the team members are said to be IPS officers.
While maintaining that central security agencies had not passed on any information on Headley`s matter to the state police, Kerala Police Chief Jacob Punnoose said the police was "verifying" reports including those in the media that Headley had stayed in a hotel in the city.
Rahul Bhatt, Headley’s common friend quizzed
As part of efforts to trace the movements of David Headley, who was in Mumbai five days prior to the LeT attacks there on November 26 last year, police has recorded the statement of a common friend of the suspected American terrorist and Rahul, son of film director Mahesh
Bhatt.
According to police sources, Rahul came into contact with Headley through one Vilas who also worked at the gym Moksha in Breach Candy area in south Mumbai.
Rahul, whose name was reportedly mentioned in the emails sent to LeT handlers by their operative Headley, used to work as a fitness instructor in the gym.
"It was Vilas who met Headley first and introduced him to Rahul. We have recorded the statement of Vilas," the sources said, refusing to divulge further details.
Mahesh Bhatt confirmed that Vilas is a mediator through whom Rahul knew Headley but the noted film maker dismissed the possibility of his son`s involvement in any terror activities.
Headley has been arrested by US investigating agency FBI for planning terror attacks in India.
Bureau Report
