26/11 Mumbai attacks: Sleuths to confront Tahawwur Rana with ‘protected witness’, aims to unravel Pak connections

A multi-agency team interrogating 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana at the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) headquarters in Delhi is planning to confront his claims with a ‘protected witness’. Investigators are reportedly trying to unravel his relationship with mastermind David Coleman Headley and other Pakistan connections.

According to reports, officials from NIA and Intelligence Bureau are questioning Rana and he is being probed about his own testimony to the FBI. Reportedly, Rana had told investigators in the United States that he had visited various parts of India ahead of the Mumbai attacks for “terror recruitment”.

A senior official involved with the probe told Indian Express that as they are interrogating Rana for the first time, they are trying to unravel more India-specific information from him. “He will be put through a fresh interrogation on those facts. The NIA had been granted access to Headley, but not Rana. So, the agency is questioning him for the first time. The attempt is to see if he can reveal more India-specific information or details that he may not have revealed to the FBI,” the officer told the publication.

Investigators are also trying to unravel more information from him regarding his possible connection with Pakistan-based LeT and Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officials. Officers said ahead of the 2008 attacks, Rana had travelled to Hapur, Delhi, Agra, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, along with his wife between November 13 and November 21, 2008.

Cops are planning to confront Rana’s claims with a “protected witness”, who reportedly received Headley on his arrival in India in 2006 and arranged logistics as per Rana’s request. “This protected witness was very close to Rana and could be confronted with him soon,”  a senior official told Hindustan Times.

“Rana might soon be confronted with the witness about his connections in India and places Headley visited and people he met during his multiple trips to India between 2006 and 2009, as well as about any other suspects who may have travelled to India during that time,” an officer involved with the probe told investigators.