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26/11 trial: Tahawwur Rana acquittal shocks Mumbai cops

They say no comment on US ruling but NIA, which was formed after 26/11, should pursue case.

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The decision of a United States court to clear Pakistan-born Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana of being involved the 2008 Mumbai attacks has left the Mumbai Police fuming.

The police refuse to believe that Rana was not complicit, especially in the light of the evidences given by the American agencies to prove his hand.

“It is true that the names of David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana never cropped up in our investigations, as the lone arrested Pakistani terrorist, Ajmal Kasab, never knew about them. He was given information on need-to-know basis. But Kasab has told us that he was shown CDs of the targets in Pakistan by his handlers. After the arrest of Headley and Rana, it became clear that Headley had done a recce of the targets at the behest of terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and the footage shown to Kasab was indeed shot by Headley,” said a Mumbai Police officer, requesting anonymity. Names of Headley and Rana are not among the 35 accused shown by the police as wanted in the 26/11 case.

“It is also a known fact that Headley had used Rana’s immigration agency to establish himself in the city. This clearly indicates that he was not only aware of what Headley was up to, but was also providing him support in the mission.

“While the US court believes that Rana is a member of the LeT, why can’t it believe that his role is not limited to being only a part of the group, but of also cooperating with Headley,” said the officer.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), formed after the 26/11 attacks, had registered a separate case against Headley and Rana for planning multiple attacks in India at the behest of the LeT and had also visited the US to record Headley’s statements.

“It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the decision of the US court as the case is with the NIA. It is they who should take a stand in this regard,” said another Mumbai Police officer.

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