JOIN USDetails of the conversation between Headley and Rana, submitted by prosecutors to a Chicago court, indicates that the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was giving priority to its attack on the NDC over other targets.
Attorneys from the US Department of Justice opposed the bail application of Rana, saying he is a danger to the community and might leave the country if set out on bail.
Rana was arrested by the FBI on terror charges along with his school friend Headley, a US citizen, who was booked on the charges of plotting attacks in India and Denmark. Headley’s bail plea is scheduled for December.
The reference to the NDC as a target was made by the duo during their conversations on September 7, which was recorded by the FBI. “In the same conversation, Headley and Rana discussed Denmark and other targets, including the National Defence College in India — Rana, in fact, used the English word ‘target’ in this discussion,” the FBI told the court.
The Department of Justice also contested Rana’s plea in his bail application that he was “duped” by Headley and that he is innocent. Rana, in his bail application, claimed that there were many individuals willing to pledge their homes and savings as security for his release. The court would hold the next hearing on November 10.
The NDC trains selected defence and civil services officers in national and international security-related fields.
In its amended complaint filed before the Chicago Court last month, the FBI said Rana and Headley had discussed and named multiple targets on September 7.
“More specifically, Headley listed four targets, one of which was ‘Denmark’, then commented ‘after that if I will pray for any other action call me a thief. God may help me complete this task’. The two Chicago residents then discussed a fifth target. Headley referred to the earlier discussion, and stated words to the effect of “oh my friend, not four, five, five.” While Rana laughed, Headley stated “Defence College” twice, and Rana commented “right, this is it.”