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FBI told Indian govt about ‘suicide bomber Ishrat Jahan in 2009`: IB

There seems to be no end to the controversy surrounding the Ishrat Jahan encounter case.

Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: There seems to be no end to the controversy surrounding the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, which has posed questions over the role of the Intelligence Bureau. In a fresh development, a letter by the IB to the Home Ministry in June in connection with the case has alleged that the US` FBI had mentioned in 2009 that Ishrat Jahan could be a suicide bomber. According to reports, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in 2009, on the basis of their interrogation of Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Headley, had sent a letter to the Indian government, informing that Ishrat Jahan was recruited by Muzammil, a terror operative. The FBI report, which has been shared by the Intelligence Bureau, has claimed that LeT operative Zaki-ur-Rehman had told Headley about the induction of Ishrat in the terror module. However, notably, the NIA’s interrogation of Headley does not mention anything about the 19-year-old, who was killed in an encounter in Gujarat. The revelations have been made as the Intelligence Bureau has lodged a strong protest with the Union Home Ministry against the CBI. It has said that the investigating agency`s move would only hurt the morale of the officers of IB. In a formal letter, IB director Asif Ibrahim said the CBI`s move to prosecute its officials in the alleged fake encounter case in Gujarat, would be "disastrous for the morale of IB officers" and would harm the country`s internal security. Sources said Ibrahim wanted to put on record IB`s displeasure over the CBI`s alleged attempt to frame IB officers the alleged encounter that took place nine years ago and wanted the government`s action over it. The IB has been maintaining that its officials only provided intelligence inputs and had nothing to do with any alleged fake encounter. Besides, it has also been maintaining that the CBI does not have enough evidence to prosecute IB officers in the alleged fake encounter case. The CBI has told a court in Ahmedabad that it would further investigate the role of four IB officials, including Special Director of the IB Rajendra Kumar, in the alleged fake encounter case. The IB`s letter, received by the just retired Union Home Secretary RK Singh, has been forwarded to the Prime Minister`s Office for further action. The Ministry of Personnel, which is the nodal Ministry of CBI, falls under the direct jurisdiction of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. (With Agency inputs)