New Delhi: Confusion over the visa papers of
two terror suspects arrested in the US persisted on Thursday with
Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor
indicating that David Headley`s papers were untraced but his
own ministry maintaining that such a conclusion would be
inaccurate.
Reports that the papers relating to issuance of visas
to Headley, an American-Pakistani, and Tahawwur Rana, a
Canadian-Pakistani issued by the Indian Consulate in Chicago,
have led to a major controversy prompting External Affairs
Minister S M Krishna to state that government has asked for a
"preliminary report" from Consul General Ashok Atri on the
issue.
"After I get the report, we will see how we can proceed
with it. I do not pre-judge anything that has appeared in the
media but certainly Government is aware of its
responsibilities and we will discharge that", Krishna said.
However, giving another dimension, Tharoor said "Rana`s
visa papers have been found. We are tracing those of
Headley`s."
He was asked to comment on reports about disappearance
of documents related to the visas issued by the Indian
Consulate in Chicago.
The MEA sought to downplay the whole issue saying it
would not be correct to conclude that the visa applications
were missing.
In a statement, official spokesman of the ministry said
"the visas in question were issued to these two individuals on
18th July, 2007 and 3rd March, 2006 respectively. A one-year
business visa was issued to Rana on 31st October, 2008.
"It would not be accurate to conclude that these visa
applications are missing. All relevant information in this
regard is being shared with the investigating agencies," the
spokesman said.
Earlier, when asked about media reports of missing visa
papers, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, "I have asked for
factual report. The matter is under investigation".
"There is a procedure. I will not answer any questions
in this regard," she added.
In response to queries, the Consulate in Chicago said,
"We have not reported loss of any papers regarding issuance of
visa to David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
Relevant information concerning the issuance of visa to these
persons is available with the Government of India."
49-year-old Headley and Rana (48) were issued multi-entry
visas at the discretion of the then Consul General and both
had travelled to India on these visas.
While Headley was issued a five-year multi-entry business
visa in July 2007, Rana was given a one-year business visa and
both were also exempted from police reporting if their stay
was less than 180 days at a single stretch.
Headley, who changed his name in order to present
himself as an American who was neither Muslim nor Pakistani,
made five trips to Mumbai — in September 2006, February and
September 2007, and April and July 2008 — each time taking
pictures and making videotapes of various targets, including
those attacked in November 2008.
PTI
