For the first time in the country's legal history, a foreign terrorist has deposed through video conferencing in an Indian court. Pakistani American Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley has deposed before a Mumbai court in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. His deposition holds significance as his statement nails Pakistan's involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Naming Hafiz Saeed for the first time, he said that the the Jammat-ud-Dawa chief was his mentor and his speeches motivated Headley. The court also showed him Saeed's photograph to recognise to which he confirmed that he is the same person. Headley's testimony is expected to nail 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed who is currently in Pakistan.
Along with Saeed, his testimony may also be used to prove the hand of Abu Jundal who is another prime accused in the case. Jundal is facing trial and is currently lodged in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail.
Headley also revealed that Lashkar-e-Toiba's Sajid Mir as his handler in Pakistan. He admitted that he joined LeT and was trained in Muzaffarabad.
Giving India a proof against the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), Headley named Major Iqbal, Major Ali and Abdul Pasha of the Pakistani intelligence service.
Headley claimed that prior to the terror strike on November 26, 2008, two unsuccessful attempts were made to attack Mumbai in September and October 2008. He said that the same set of men who attacked on 26/11 had come twice in previous months to carry out attacks. The men even used the same route through the sea to enter Mumbai.
Headley also revealed that he visited India seven times before the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and once in 2009 after the attacks. Headley referred to 26/11 terror attacks mastermind Sajid Mir as his 'colleague' in the LeT. He has claimed that he was a "true follower" of the terror outfit.
Headley added that Sajid Mir had asked him to set up an office in India with a motive to build a cover up in India. Headley had taken a 5-year visa to set up his business in India.
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