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CPM questions govt on Indian access to Headley

December 15, 2009 14:18 IST

The Communist Party of India-Marxist has expressed serious concern over Indian investigating agencies not being allowed to interrogate Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Coleman Headley and sought to know what steps the government is taking into the matter.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, party member Brinda Karat said Headley, earlier a drug smuggler, worked as an undercover agent of the US intelligence agency Central Intelligence Agency since 1999 and the US government helped him make frequent trips to Pakistan. He even travelled to India after the Mumbai blasts.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was aware of Headley's antecedents even before the Mumbai blasts, she said adding, "We want to know if the FBI did pass on real time intelligence to Indian agencies."

Karat asked why Indian investigators were denied access to Headley when the FBI was allowed to interrogate Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught alive in 26/11 attacks.

"Did our prime minister raise the issue with the US president?" she asked.

She also wanted to know what steps are being taken to ensure that Indian investigators question Headley at the earliest. A number of members associated with her on the issue.
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