Headley's questioning: no restriction on questions by NIA: US

Chicago, Jun 11 (PTI) Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-
Taiba terrorist, David Coleman Headley, answered to all the
questions of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team for
a week and there was "no restriction" the questions posed by
the Indian investigators, US Justice Department said Friday.
"Headley and his counsel agreed to the meetings (with
the Indian investigators) and Headley answered the Indian
investigators' questions over the course of seven days of
interviews. There were no restrictions on the questions posed
by Indian investigators," said a statement from the US Justice
Department.
A four-member team of NIA officials, led by Loknath
Bahera, questioned Headley face-to-face, eliciting information
about his role in the Mumbai attacks, the wider conspiracy and
all those involved in the carnage.
The team has concluded questioning of Mumbai terror
suspect and has headed back home, Indian Ambassador to the US
Meera Shankar had told PTI.
"As part of the cooperation and partnership between
the US and India in the fight against international terrorism,
Indian law enforcement officials were provided direct access
to interview David Coleman Headley," it said.
To protect the confidentiality of the investigations
being conducted by both India and the United States, both
countries have agreed not to disclose the contents of the
interviews, the statement said.
Headley had, on March 18, pleaded guilty to conspiring
in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in November 2008, as well as later
planning to attack a Danish newspaper, but struck a deal with
US authorities in a plea bargain that saved him from the death
penalty and extradition to India.
The plea agreement had however said Headley would
cooperate with foreign authorities and can be interviewed by
them only on US soil.
India had asked the US to grant access to the
49-year-old Headley, being held in the federal lock-up
Metropolitan Correctional Centre in Chicago. PTI SKL