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I treat India as enemy, says Headley

Last Updated 08 February 2016, 20:22 IST

Saying that he considers India as an enemy, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) agent David Headley told a Mumbai court on Monday that he was motivated by the speeches of the terror outfit’s founder Hafiz Saeed.

This, he said, was the driving force behind him becoming a jihadi, which ultimately led to the groundwork ahead of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.


During the course of his testimony, 56-year-old Headley described himself as a “true follower of Lashkar” who was tasked with reconnaissance and specific instructions to make a “general video” of Mumbai.

He admitted to changing his name from Daood Gilani to David Coleman Headley in 2006 –“as part of my cover”–to facilitate the intelligence gathering work prior to the fidayeen attack. During the examination-in-chief by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam before Additional Sessions Judge G A Sanap, Headley admitted to lot of things that pinpoints the role of people in the Pakistani establishment.

When asked with whose speech he was motivated, he said “the head of Lashkar” and when asked his name he said it was Hafeez Saeed.

 He was then shown a photo which he identified as Hafeez Saeed. Asked whether LeT is a militant organisation, he said yes and then when asked to specify its role, he replied, “Assist the people of Kashmir in fighting the Indian Army.”

Headley, then to a series of questions, explained different phases of Lashkar training – Daura-e-Sufa, Daura-e-Aam, Daura-e-Khas, Daura-e-Ribat and leadership course.

Headley said that Daura-e-Sufa was a “study course” held in Muridke outside Lahore; Daura-e-Aam and Daura-e-Khas were held in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (he referred to as Azad Kashmir) and Daura-e-Ribat was held at Masera near Abbottabad.

“Muridke, Muzaffarabad and Mansera are protected by Lashkar,” he said to another query.
Asked who were the leaders who lectured during the leadership course, he said it was Hafeez Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the LeT chief of operations. When asked did they tell about “jihad”, he replied in positive and explained that “jihad is to fight against enemies of Islam.”

When Nikam wanted to know whether he treats India as his enemy, he said yes. To another question whether Hafeez Saeed and Lakhvi consider himself as India’s enemy, he said yes.  Asked if he wanted to fight in Kashmir, he said he wanted to but was told by Lakhvi that “I am too old  for that” and that he would be “assigned some other task”.

He said that his main contact person in LeT was Sajid Mir and that Mir passed on the instructions on behalf of the leaders.

He also identified his trainers as Abu Furkhan, Sanaullah, Abu Hamzala, Abu Usman, Abu Saeed and Abu Fahdullah. Asked whether they were all retired army men, he said, “None of them, some of them could barely read and write.”

When it was pointed out that these men had taught him to handle sophisticated weapons, he replied: “If you think AK-47 is sophisticated, Yes.” He said these were all “nicknames” and they had not revealed their true identity.
DH News Service

First of its kind
 For the first time a foreign terrorist has testified through video-telephone conference
David Headley, who is serving 35-year sentence in the US, appeared from an undisclosed location
 Sarah Stricker, a US attorney; John Theis, attorney for Headley; Bob Ceder, who works with John, were also present
Zaibuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who is now facing trial, appeared through video-conferencing from Arthur Road prison
He looked agitated and was seen scribbling notes
Over a 100 policemen were posted inside and outside the courtroom 
 Proceedings began at 7 am and ended at 12:30 pm, with two short breaks.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam put up around 200 questions
 Recording of evidence will continue on Tuesday

Also in court
 Addl DGP Atul Kulkarni, heads of Mumbai Crime Branch-CID that probed 26/11 attack
 Chief investigator (retd) Ramesh Mahale
NIA and MEA officers
An official of the FBI and US Embassy were seen taking notes
Senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani, present at the request of Headley’s attorney

LeT training
Daura-e-Sufa — study course near Lahore
 Daura-e-Aam & Daura-e-Khas — in Muzaffarabad, PoK
Daura-e-Ribat —near Abbottabad
Leadership course — lectured by Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

Some of the wanted
1.      Hafiz Mohammad Saeed @ Hafiz @ Hafiz Saab
2.    Zaki-Ur-Rehaman Lakhvi
3.    Abu Hamza
4.     Abu Al Kama @ Amjid
5.     Abu Kaahfa
6.     Mujja Mil @ Yusuf
7.     Zarar Shah
8.     Abu Fahad Ullah
9.     Abu Abdul Rehman
10.    Abu Anas

Killed by security forces
1.  Ismail Khan @ Abu Ismail, Resident of Dera Ismail Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.
2.  Imran Babar @ Abu AakashaResident of Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
3.  Nasir @ Abu Umar,Resident of Faislabad, Pakistan.
4.  Nazir @ Abu Umer,Resident of Faislabad, Pakistan.
5.  Hafiz Arshad @ Abdul Rehaman Bada @ Hayaji. Resident of Multan Road, Punjab, Pakistan.
6.  Abdul Reheman Chhota @ Saakib,
Resident of Arafwala, Multan Road, Punjab, Pakistan.
7.  Fahad Ullah, Resident of Ujarashamnkam, Dipalpur, Harun Shaikh, Kasoor Road, Pakistan.
8.  Javed @ Abu Ali. Resident of District Okara, Panjab, Pakistan.
9.  Shoaib @ Abu Soheb, Resident of Naroral, Shakkar Road, Sialkot, Panjab, Pakistan.

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(Published 08 February 2016, 20:20 IST)

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