Lashkar was targeting National Defence College in India: FBI

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 4 (PTI) David Coleman Headley and
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, arrested last month by the FBI, were
part of a LeT plan of a major terror attack on the facilities
of a Danish newspaper and the National Defence College in
India, federal prosecutors have said.

Opposing the bail application of Rana before a Chicago
court on Tuesday, attorneys from the US Department of Justice
said Rana is a danger to the community and might leave the
country, if released.
Rana faces a maximum sentence of 30 years, if proved
guilty.
Pakistani-born Canadian citizen and a resident of
Chicago, Rana was arrested by the FBI on terror charges along
with his school friend Headley, a US citizen, who was also
arrested on the charges of plotting attacks in Denmark and
India.
Headley's bail plea is scheduled for December.
The reference to the National Defence College, New Delhi,
as a target was made by the duo during their conversations on
September 7, which was recorded by the FBI.
"In the same conversation, Headley and Rana discussed
Denmark and other targets, including the National Defence
College in India -– Rana, in fact, used the English word
"target" in this discussion," the FBI informed the court.
In its amended complaint filed before the Chicago Court
last month, the FBI said Rana and Headley had discussed and
named multiple targets of their planning in their conversation
on September 7.

"More specifically, Headley listed four targets, one of
which was 'Denmark', then commented '[a]fter that if I will
pray for any other action call me a thief. God may help me
complete this task'.
"Later in this same conversation, Rana asked Headley to
'pass along a message' to Individual B (unidentified LeT
leader)," the FBI said in its previous affidavit.
The two Chicago-residents then discussed a fifth target.
More specifically, Headley referred to the earlier discussion,
and stated words to the effect of "oh my friend, not four,
five, five".
While Rana laughed, Headley stated "Defence College"
twice, and Rana commented "right, this is it. I knew already".
After other discussion, Rana continued "That one, uh, I
thought that was the target". Headley responded, "I don't know
but once he comes then it will be known, but I am going to ask
him to do that one first.
Rana responded, "in this matter -– defence [UI]," the FBI
said.
The conversation indicates that the LeT was giving
priority to its attack on the National Defence College in New
Delhi over the other targets, including the facilities of the
Danish newspaper, which had published a cartoon of the Prophet
Mohammad.
The Department of Justice also contested Rana's plea in
his bail application that he was "duped" by Headley and that
he is innocent.
"There is nothing to suggest that Rana was "duped" by
Headley or somehow unaware of the illicit nature of their
efforts.
"To the contrary, in numerous conversations, Rana and
Headley engaged in coded exchanges to hide the true nature of
their communications," said US Attorney Patrick J Fitzgerald
in submissions before the court yesterday.
Rana in his bail application said there are many
individuals willing to pledge their homes and savings as
security for Defendant's release.
He offered to put as many as six houses as security for
the bail application, all having a combined value of nearly a
million dollars.
However, the federal prosecutors opposed the bail
application and the court would continue with its hearing now
scheduled for November 10.
Noting that there is nothing to suggest that Rana was
merely ridiculing Headley, federal prosecutors said Rana was
an active participant in this conversation.
"Beyond knowing and discussing that Denmark was a
'target', the evidence demonstrates that Rana actively
participated in furthering the efforts of the conspirators,"
it said.
"In particular, Rana provided a cover story for David
Headley, who performed extensive video surveillance of the
Jyllands-Posten facility, video that was recovered during
Headley's arrest."
"Headley gained access into the Jyllands-Posten facility
by acting as a representative of defendant Rana's business,"
said the federal prosecutors.
"Based on email communications from Headley, defendant
Rana was fully aware of the true purpose of Headley's travel
to Denmark, and the false pretences that Headley used to gain
entry into the facility," they added.
"On or about January 29, 2009, defendant Rana even posed
as Headley to communicate with a representative of the
newspaper and thereby maintain Headley's cover story."
According to them, Rana had also misled a government
official, the Pakistani Consulate in Chicago, to obtain a visa
for Headley to facilitate his prospective overseas travel. PTI