A United States federal court in Chicago has started the sentencing hearing of David Coleman Headley, an LeT operative convicted of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.              

The hearing started before the court of US District Judge Harry D Leinenweber in downtown Chicago amidst an unprecedented security.              

According to court officials several hundred people lined up before the court room ahead of proceedings, delaying the start by around 30 minutes.              

Sniffer dogs were deployed and every individual was thoroughly checked before they were allowed to enter the courtroom by security personnel.              

No electronic device, cellular phone, i-pads and recording devices were allowed inside the court room, which was opened on a first-cum-first serve basis.