US LeT terrorist visited India

New Delhi / Mumbai, Nov. 8: David Coleman Headley, who was hired by the Pakistan-based militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba to carry out attacks in India, was arrested by the US-based Federal Bureau of Investigation for conspiring to carry out terror attacks.

“He had visited India, including Mumbai, several times,” said the home secretary, Mr G.K. Pillai, on Sunday. “We do know that Headley had visited India a number of times. It is being investigated,” he said.

Headley, 49, was arrested last month at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Philadelphia, intending to travel to Pakistan.

The FBI also arrested Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, for alleged involvement in terror activities. While Mr Pillai did not give any further details, sources in the investigating agencies said they were probing Headley’s involvement in setting up of an office in Mumbai which used to provide visa and travel facilities to youths.

The Mumbai Police has been asked to prepare a list of people using the services of Headley’s company to travel abroad.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police is also investigating the role of Headley to find out whether the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba operatives had any local support in carrying out last year’s November 26 terror attacks here, a senior official said on Sunday.

“Yes, we are investigating the role of David Coleman Headley in this matter. However, so far we have not found any evidence linking them to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks,” said Mr Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).