Synopsis
Tahawwur Rana is being interrogated by the NIA regarding a Dubai plotter linked to the 26/11 attacks and his connection to David Coleman Headley. Investigators are exploring potential links to Dawood Ibrahim and his network.Key Takeaways
- Rana's interrogation focuses on a Dubai plotter.
- Investigation into Dawood Ibrahim's involvement.
- Rana confirms presence in Mumbai before the attack.
- Headley utilized satellite geotagging for target selection.
- 18-day questioning may reveal more about Pakistani nationals.
New Delhi, April 12 (NationPress) The questioning of Tahawwur Rana, an extradited terrorist linked to the 26/11 attacks, by the NIA is focused on obtaining details regarding a significant plotter from Dubai and an individual who aided and hosted David Coleman Headley in Mumbai prior to the 2008 assault, sources revealed on Saturday.
Authorities are also looking to interrogate the 64-year-old Pakistani-Canadian to determine if Dawood Ibrahim or his D-Company network in Dubai had any role in the 26/11 conspiracy, according to insiders.
The unidentified figure from Dubai reportedly had prior knowledge of the attack, as investigators have been closely monitoring Rana in his NIA detention to avert any suicide attempts.
A new voice sample from Rana has been forwarded for forensic analysis to compare with recorded conversations he had with co-conspirators shortly after the incident, sources added.
Rana, who previously served in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, is currently under investigation for providing logistical support to his childhood friend Headley. Although he claims to have difficulty recalling the sequence of events, he has acknowledged being in Mumbai at least one week before the attack.
The Dubai ‘plotter’ met with Rana at Headley's request, and NIA investigators believe that the entire conspiracy was orchestrated over three years beginning in 2005.
Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, was previously interrogated by an NIA team in the US back in 2010 and was later convicted for his involvement in the attack.
As part of their preparation, the NIA has arranged for Headley’s Mumbai host to confront both men and verify their activities, which included reconnaissance of significant locations such as the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and Chabad House or Nariman House in Colaba, important sites for the Jewish community.
The local aide in Mumbai assisted Headley in establishing an office, during which he spent approximately 11 months surveying potential targets.
In identifying the targets for 26/11, Headley reportedly utilized Satellite geotagging, a method that employs satellite imagery and remote sensing data to assign geographical coordinates to media, like photographs or videos.
This information, which typically contains latitude and longitude, enabled the ten Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists to pinpoint their targets based on location.
The terrorists entered a fishing colony in Mumbai via boat, employing this crucial information to disperse throughout the city and execute shootings and bombings at twelve different sites. They were equipped with layout plans and blueprints for their four primary targets: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Oberoi Trident, and Nariman House.
The Mumbai attack commenced on November 26 and continued until November 29, claiming 166 lives, including six US nationals.
Rana's 18-day interrogation by the NIA is anticipated to reveal insights regarding the potential involvement of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the 26/11 events. He may also face inquiries regarding key plotters Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Sajid Majeed Mir.
In addition to informing NIA investigators about his Pakistani family roots, Rana has recounted his education in medicine before joining the Army and how he and his wife, both physicians, became Canadian citizens in 2001. A few years later, Rana established an immigration and travel agency in Chicago.
