Headley stayed two days in a hotel in Pushkar: NIA
American terror suspect David Headley had stayed for two days in a hotel at Pushkar in the outskirts of Ajmer and had insisted on a room opposite a Jewish prayer centre claiming he was a Jew and wanted "holy sight".
The hotel staff, in their statements to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the case, highlighted the fact that 49-year-old Headley had insisted on the room view which was right opposite to the prayer hall of the Jew centre in Pushkar.
Headley, arrested by the FBI, had projected himself as a Jew and had told the hotel staff that he would like to have the "holy sight" of Chabad house from his room, the NIA sources said. Tracing the footsteps of Headley reaching up to Ajmer, the authorities have carried out quick checks on whether the terror suspect had also visited the Chabad House in the hill station of Manali.
Taking no chances, police in Manali have already strengthened the vigil around the Chabad House in this hilly district. Superintendent of Police (Kullu) K K Indoria told PTI that the Chabad house has been put under special security net after it was found that Headley had visited the Nariman house in Mumbai and the Chabad house in Pushkar.
The Chabad house in the tourist resort which is a favourite destination of Israeli tourists visiting the country is under a special security cover with hourly patrols. "We have been giving the Chabad house special attention post the Mumbai terror attacks and we had also received orders to provide special security to the places frequented by Jewish tourists. Our personnel are on high alert," he said.
The Chabad houses around the country serve as meeting points for Jewish tourists who gather here for prayers and to celebrate their festivals with compatriots while away from home. "We had provided the Chabad house special security when they had celebrated their New Year in August. So far there have been no untoward occurences. We are also in touch with the local people and Israelis who have settled in the valley," Indoria said.
