India downplays inability to quiz Headley in US

Seeking to downplay the inability of Indian officials to get access to suspected terrorist David Headley, the government on Tuesday said it has received a full report from US investigators and has advised them on what lines further probe was required.

Home ministry officials said the government has received a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which was prepared on the basis of interrogation of Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, both arrested for their alleged involvement in terror activities.

"We now have a full report from US authorities on the alleged terror plot. There were gaps in the information given through the affidavit. We have also told them on what lines further probe is required," an official said.

On the inability of the Indian intelligence team, who went to the US, to question Headley and Rana, the official said it happened due to "procedural" hurdles and also because both of them are currently in jail.

"Because of the US law, it would be inappropriate to discuss it in public," the official said

Headley (49) was arrested last month at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Philadelphia, intending to travel to Pakistan. Subsequently the FBI also arrested Rana, 48, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin.

Headley and Rana were arrested for planning to carry out terrorist activities in and outside the US with the help of Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

During interrogation, they told the FBI that they were planning to carry out terror attacks in India which included hitting vital installations like National Defence College in Delhi and five-star hotels.

This information was shared by the FBI with Indian government following which a team, comprising officials of Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing, was sent to the US.