ID :
95543
Thu, 12/17/2009 - 20:07
Auther :
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https://www.oananews.org//node/95543
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Indian Consulate says it has "not reported" loss of any papers
Yoshita Singh
Chicago, Dec 17 (PTI) Seeking to downplay media
reports that sensitive papers pertaining to the issuance of
visas to LeT operative David Headley and his associate
Tawahhur Rana have gone missing, the Indian Consulate here
issued a curious clarification saying they have "not reported"
loss of any papers.
In response to queries, the Consultate said, "We have
not reported loss of any papers regarding issuance of visa to
David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Relevant
information concerning the issuance of visa to these persons
is available with the Government of India."
In New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna said the Indian Government has asked for a
"preliminary report" from Consul General Ashok Atri on the
issue.
"After I get the report, we will see how we can
proceed with it. I do not pre-judge anything that has appeared
in the media but certainly Government is aware of its
responsibilities and we will discharge that," he said.
The remarks comes in the wake of media reports
that papers on the basis of which Headley and Rana were issued
visas by the Consulate may have gone mysteriously missing.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Wednesday said
in New Delhi that she had asked for a "factual report" from
the Inidan Consul General.
49-year-old Pakistani-origin US national Headley and
Pakistani-Canadian Rana, 48 had travelled to India on
multi-entry visas issued by the Indian mission.
The visas to Headley and Rana were issued at the
discretion of the Consul General in Chicago.
While Headley was issued a five-year multi-entry
business visa in July 2007, Rana was given a one-year business
visa and both were also exempted from police reporting if
their stay was less than 180 days at a single stretch.
Headley, who changed his name in order to present
himself as an American who was neither Muslim nor Pakistani,
made five trips to Mumbai — in September 2006, February and
September 2007, and April and July 2008 — each time taking
pictures and making videotapes of various targets, including
those attacked in November 2008.
After each trip Headley undertook to India between
September 2006 and July 2008, he returned to Pakistan, met
other co-conspirators and provided them with photographs,
videos and oral descriptions of various locations, the charges
said.
Headley has been charged by FBI in a US court with
criminal conspiring in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks which
claimed 166 lives. Rana, who has also been denied bail, faces
charges that he provided support to Headley in plotting
attacks against a Danish newspaper. PTI ZH
RDM
Chicago, Dec 17 (PTI) Seeking to downplay media
reports that sensitive papers pertaining to the issuance of
visas to LeT operative David Headley and his associate
Tawahhur Rana have gone missing, the Indian Consulate here
issued a curious clarification saying they have "not reported"
loss of any papers.
In response to queries, the Consultate said, "We have
not reported loss of any papers regarding issuance of visa to
David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Relevant
information concerning the issuance of visa to these persons
is available with the Government of India."
In New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna said the Indian Government has asked for a
"preliminary report" from Consul General Ashok Atri on the
issue.
"After I get the report, we will see how we can
proceed with it. I do not pre-judge anything that has appeared
in the media but certainly Government is aware of its
responsibilities and we will discharge that," he said.
The remarks comes in the wake of media reports
that papers on the basis of which Headley and Rana were issued
visas by the Consulate may have gone mysteriously missing.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Wednesday said
in New Delhi that she had asked for a "factual report" from
the Inidan Consul General.
49-year-old Pakistani-origin US national Headley and
Pakistani-Canadian Rana, 48 had travelled to India on
multi-entry visas issued by the Indian mission.
The visas to Headley and Rana were issued at the
discretion of the Consul General in Chicago.
While Headley was issued a five-year multi-entry
business visa in July 2007, Rana was given a one-year business
visa and both were also exempted from police reporting if
their stay was less than 180 days at a single stretch.
Headley, who changed his name in order to present
himself as an American who was neither Muslim nor Pakistani,
made five trips to Mumbai — in September 2006, February and
September 2007, and April and July 2008 — each time taking
pictures and making videotapes of various targets, including
those attacked in November 2008.
After each trip Headley undertook to India between
September 2006 and July 2008, he returned to Pakistan, met
other co-conspirators and provided them with photographs,
videos and oral descriptions of various locations, the charges
said.
Headley has been charged by FBI in a US court with
criminal conspiring in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks which
claimed 166 lives. Rana, who has also been denied bail, faces
charges that he provided support to Headley in plotting
attacks against a Danish newspaper. PTI ZH
RDM
