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Pakistani-American Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley continues his deposition before a Mumbai court via a video link on Friday.
On Thursday, the Lashkar terrorist, who is in the US facing a 35 year prison term, said that Mumbai’s Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar operative and also laid bare the financing he received from the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Lashkar.
Here are the highlights from his deposition on Day 4.
Met Ilyas Kashmiri in February 2009; he asked me to go to India to conduct recce for future attacks. He asked me to survey National Defence College (Delhi), Chabad House (Pushkar, Pune), & Chabad House (Goa). Kashmiri gave me money for air fare. I didn't share these facts with LeT because I thought they won't allow this visit.
In 2007, Sajid Mir asked me to take a look at National Defence College if I visit Delhi. I did that, but didn't make a video.
Ilyas Kashmiri said National Defence College (Delhi) was a high value target & many senior Indian Army officers stay there. Kashmiri wanted to target National Defence College (Delhi) because it was a prime target.
I was also working for Al Qaeda. One of the reason I didn't tell about this to LeT is that they will think I may be apprehended in India
During this time I had a telephonic conversation with Tahawwur Rana, informed him about my Mumbai visit and suggestions for landing site
Also visited Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple, made video of premises and purchased 15-20 wrist bands for 26/11 attackers so that they would look like Indians, as a cover up of their identities
LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi emphasised that surveillance for 26/11 attacks should be done properly as this was a chance ‘to take revenge for all bomb blasts India had done in the past’ in Pakistan
Chabad House was selected by LeT as target as it was an international location where Jewish and Israeli people were staying
LeT's Major Iqbal asked me to recruit some employees of BARC in future who would work for ISI
I visited and made a video of BARC, and then handed it to Major Iqbal and Sajid Mir
I discouraged LeT from attacking Naval Air Station and SiddhivinayakTemple as I observed that both are heavily guarded
I met Rajaram Rege at Shiv Sena headquaters in Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar area of Mumbai and developed a close friendship with him
I wanted to access the Shiv Sena Bhavan in case LeT is interested in attacking the building in future
I met Rahul Bhatt, through a person called Vilas, during a body-building competition. Vilas was the in-charge of Moksha Gym
I took a video of Shiv Sena Bhavan and handed it to LeT. They were planning to target Shiv Sena HQ and Balasaheb Thackeray
Sajid Mir asked me to develop my friendship with Rajaram Rege, who was the PRO of Uddhav Thackeray
I visited Gateway of India, Cuffe Parade, Worli to select landing site for 26/11 attackers and later finalised on Cuffe Parade
Went back to Pakistan after my Mumbai visit from April 9 to 15, 2008 and met Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal and showed them video of the possible landing site
I also did a recce of Mumbai airport, but Major Iqbal was unhappy. He thought that targeting Mumbai airport was not a good idea
On November 28, 2008, I got a mail from my wife stating: "Congratulations on your graduation, ceremony was great". She gave me full credit for the successful terror attack. She also wrote, "Yaar you did great". She was talking about the 26/11 attacks, says Headley after being asked by Public Prosecutor about what that mail meant
My wife met Hafiz Saeed and requested him to convince me to take her back as I had divorced her. My wife Faiza knew that I was a true follower of Hafiz who called me through somebody after hearing my wife's request
When shown the picture of Ajmal Kasab, David Headley said "Rahmatullah Ali" (May God bless you)
LeT was unhappy about non-inclusion of Mumbai airport
I was in Pakistan from April 15 to June 30 2008, but during this period somewhere in May, I visited New York and Philadelphia