The duo and seven Pakistani handlers face trial for waging war against India.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will soon file charge sheet against 26/11 terror attacks accused — David Coleman Headley, his accomplice Tahawwur Husain Rana and seven Pakistani handlers, including two ISI officers following the final nod from the ministry of home affairs on Wednesday.
MHA sources said the NIA is expected to file the charge sheet within a day or two in a special Delhi Court charging the accused under IPC section 121 of waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government of India read with section 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
The charge sheet, sources said, may help the investigating agency question Rana and raise the matter in an international judicial tribunal about ISI’s complicity in the terror attacks as the case progresses to bring pressure on Pakistan.
Besides prime accused Headley and Rana, the charge sheet is also expected to name Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s chief and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, LeT top commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi as accused number 3 and 4.
The accused include Pakistan espionage agency ISI’s Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali who interviewed Headley in January 2006 and then referred him to Maj Iqbal who became his main handler in Lahore. This is the first time India will be formally putting ISI connection in 26/11 on record by charging two (the then) serving Pakistani Army officials.
In January 2006, after interviewing Headley Maj Sameer Ali referred him to a Major Iqbal, who became his main handler in Lahore. Described as fat and having guttaral voice, Maj Iqbal introduced Headley to Lieutenant Colonel Shah, who promised him financial support for terrorist operations against India.
During his plea bargain, Headley accepted Major Iqbal gave him $25,000 to set up a front company in Mumbai as a cover while conducting reconnaissance for the attacks. Headley spent months scouting the Taj Mahal hotel and other targets for Mir and Major Iqbal, who also sent him on separate missions to gather intelligence on an atomic research center and military sites around India.
The other accused to be named in the charge sheet include LeT commander Sajid Majid or Sajid Mir, alleged to be the main plotter of Mumbai attacks, Abdur Rehman Hashim, said to be a retired Pakistan army official, who coordinated with Headley and stayed in his touch during the operation and Illyas Kashmiri, the bridge between LeT and al Qaeda.
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