Headley''s deposition adjourned due to technical glitch

Mumbai, February 10

Disruption in the video-link forced adjournment of the deposition of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley before a court here on Wednesday, after two successive days of his testimony during which he made several revelations, including the role of ISI in the 26/11 attacks.

The deposition will resume tomorrow.

Technical glitch occurred soon after the Headley’s deposition from the US began this morning, forcing Special Judge GA Sanap to adjourn the hearing for an hour.

Sanap was later informed by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and other officials that the glitch could not be rectified immediately.

Following this, the court allowed the adjournment till tomorrow as sought by the prosecution.

“There was a technical snag in the video conference link from their side (US) due to which we could not connect despite several attempts since morning,” Nikam said.

The deposition, which began on February 8 and was initially planned till February 12, may now be extended.

Headley, an LeT operative who is serving 35-year sentence in the US in connection with the 26/11 attacks, has made several revelations over the last two days about the terror case and the role played by Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI as well machinations of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba.

During his deposition yesterday, he said he was working for the ISI and that the intelligence agency provides “financial, military and moral support” to terror outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Headley, who had conducted recce of the places in Mumbai, which were attacked by 10 LeT terrorists on November 26,2008, also revealed that the outfit had initially planned to attack a conference of Indian Indian defence scientists at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

The plan was dropped due to “logistical reasons”, like difficulty in smuggling in weapons and personal and lack of details about the schedule of the meet, he told the court.

He said he had also conducted a recce of the famous Siddhivinayak Temple and Naval air station on directions of LeT commanders.

While spilling beans about involvement of Pakistan’s Army and intelligence agency in terrorism in India, he said he knew ISI official Brigadier Riyaz being the handler of LeT’s top commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who was the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks.

He named three officials of the Pakistan Army and ISI—Colonel Shah, Lt Colonel Hamza and Major Samir Ali—besides retired Army officer Abdul Rehman Pasha who was closely working with the LeT and al-Qaeda.

Headley said his assessment was that the ISI and LeT were coordinating with each other and the “ISI provides financial, military and moral support to terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed, LeT and Hizbul Mujaideen.”

Headley, who had visited Mumbai seven times to scout for targets, revealed that plans to target Mumbai had started over a year before the 26/11. — PTI