An attack on India's National Defence College (NDC) was discussed by suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who offered praise for the terror outfit LeT and said he "appreciates them from heart", US prosecutors have alleged.
During a conversation on September 7, 2009 between Rana and Headley, the two "discussed the National Defence College in India as a 'target'", according to papers filed by prosecutors in a court here yesterday.
Prosecutors allege that Headley added the Defence College as a target to his list of previously discussed targets, saying "sorry not four, five". To this Rana responded, "right, this is it, I knew already" further adding he "thought it is the target".
Prosecutors stated that Rana used the "English word target". According to the conversation, Headley explained that he "would ask LeT Member A to 'do that first' (attack the Defence College)" to which Rana responded affirmatively, "in this matter, do the defense".
After Headley said that "we" would use LeT Member A to carry out the attack on the Defence College, Rana again offered praise for LeT Member A and said: "they should be really commended".
"I appreciate them from my heart", Rana said according to prosecutors, who submitted a memorandum yesterday opposing Rana's release on bail. They argue that "Rana's own statements, made in what he believed to be a private conversation, belie his argument to this court that he believes in non-violence.
"The statements acknowledging that the Defence College is a 'target', and affirmatively saying "do the defence" are grossly inconsistent with both his portrayal that his beliefs are consistent with (Mahatma) Gandhi and his claim that he was unwitting of Headley's activities," prosecutors said. Rana is set to appear in a court here today for his bail hearing.
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