David Coleman Headley, the Mumbai attacks accused, visited a nuclear power plant in India, at the direction of his handler in Pakistan, Major Iqbal in April 2008, according to unsealed released court documents.
According to these documents, unsealed after ‘Chicago Tribune’ petitioned before the court, Major Iqbal, said to be an ISI officer, also gave him Indian currency notes for his operation in India.
“Additionally, based on instructions from Major Iqbal, Headley visited a nuclear power plant in India to conduct surveillance,” federal prosecutors said in its 57-page documents giving details of the case and the modus operandi of Headley and other Lashkar operatives with regard to the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
In April 2008, Headley returned to Mumbai. As instructed, he conducted surveillance of potential landing sites, and took boat rides around the Mumbai harbour, using the GPS and making videos.
“Headley also performed surveillance of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) train station. Additionally, based on instructions from Major Iqbal, Headley visited a nuclear power plant in India to conduct surveillance. After completing these surveillance activities, Headley returned to Pakistan and met with Zaki, Sajid, Abu Qahafa, and another Lashkar member,” it said.
Abu Qahafa downloaded the contents of the device and used Google Earth to view images of the locations, it said adding that Headley recommended a landing point for the attackers near a small fisherman’s bay on the coast of Mumbai.
Headley further recommended that, after landing, the attackers could use taxis to reach their attack locations. Zaki again expressed his preference that the attackers land right in front of the Taj Mahal hotel.
“Sajid told Headley that the attack would have to wait until September at the earliest when the waters between Pakistan and India would be calmer.
As before, Headley also reported to Major Iqbal about what he had done, also providing him copies of videos that he had made. Further, Headley related to Major Iqbal the discussions that he had with Lashkar regarding the planning and preparation for the attacks,” the documents said.
In the summer of 2008, Headley travelled to Chicago and stayed with Tahawwur Hussein Rana, another accused in Mumbai attacks currently on trial in a Chicago court.
He described to the defendant the surveillance that he had conducted, including the Taj Mahal hotel and train station.
Headley told Rana about his boat trips, as well as the meetings he had with Sajid, one of his LeT handlers, and others regarding the attackers’ planned ingress by sea and the recommended landing points.
Headley told Rana about LeT’s operation commander Zaki’s idea of having the attackers land in front of the Taj Mahal hotel.
Published - May 26, 2011 01:56 pm IST
