JOIN US'Headley was in touch with Hafeez Saeed'
The passport (097536400) of the terror suspect arrested by the FBI last month shows that “he visited New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Agra between 2006-2009”, sources told Deccan Herald quoting documents obtained from the FBI.
Headley acquired the passport sometime in March 2006.
Intelligence sources believe that Headley could be the “hidden link” in the Mumbai terror strikes which killed over 170 people, including foreign nationals. The terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba mastermind Hafeez Saeed was “in touch” with Headley and his accomplices, they said. They believe he was on a reconnaissance mission to several Indian cities.
Headley, along with his arrested Pakistan-born Canadian accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana, had been staying at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai till November 21 before the deadly terror strikes in the metropolis on November 26, 2008.
Terror designs
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the Indian intelligence officials, who had gone to the US to gather information from the FBI about Headley’s terror designs, have returned with “good information”.
The blowing up of the cover by the FBI on another terror plot against India has left many in the government asking questions whether the Indian Intelligence agencies were caught napping while the LeT suspects frequented Indian cities.
“Intelligence failure was the main reason for the 26/11 strikes,” said a senior officials pointing to the “gaping holes” in the intelligence collection and checking at the airports.
The proposed three-day Indian visit of CIA director Leon E Panetta on November 20 has fuelled speculation that there is more to Headley’s terror plans than what meets the eye. Panetta will meet the home minister, the national security advisors and the RAW and IB directors.