The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has moved [to] a Delhi court seeking issuance of Non-Bailable Warrants (NBW) against David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani origin American citizen and Lashkar operative who had done the groundwork for 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, his accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pak origin and Pak-based Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed on charges of plotting terror attacks in India.
The NIA has also sought issuance of NBW against two senior officers of the Pakistani army. The accused, all of whom are based outside India, have been booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act, dealing with waging war against the Indian government, conspiracy and procuring arms and ammunitions.
The move by the NIA came within a month of its four-member team questioning David Headley in the U.S. Both Headley and Rana are currently under the judicial custody in Chicago and Headley has already pleaded guilty to a dozen charges levelled against him by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As the NIA is still investigating the case, the issuance of NBW would facilitate in taking steps towards getting Red Corner alert notices issued against the accused by the Interpol, the plea filed by Sawyam Praksh Pani, Superintendent of Police of the NIA said.
The NIA, in its FIR registered on November 11 last year, has also named as accused Pakistan-based Lakhvi, Saeed, Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali of Pakistani Army, Sajid Mir and Abdul Rehman.
“The present case is of immense national importance and investigation conducted so far has revealed extensive roles played by these accused towards commission of offences alleged in the FIR,” the NIA said. District and Sessions Judge S P Garg is likely to hear the NIA application for issuance of NBWs soon.
Headley and Rana had come in contact with operatives of Lashkar and HUJI in September 2006 and had conspired to carry out terror attacks in Delhi and other places in India, NIA maintained. .
Besides his various trips to India, Headley, in the guise of an Immigration Law Consultant, had also come to Delhi from Abu Dhabi on February 7 last year and went back via Mumbai almost ten days after his arrival, NIA said.
The Pakistan-based handlers were in constant touch with Headley and Rana to launch terror attacks in India, it said, adding that Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali, who hailed from Lahore and Karachi respectively, are members of Pakistan Army.
Published - July 09, 2010 07:19 pm IST
