‘Where did he stay in India, whom did he meet, where did he meet…’ NIA asked terrorist Tahawwur Rana these questions on Mumbai attack!

New Delhi: 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana is now in the clutches of law. The country’s investigation agency NIA wants to know the answers to all those questions, which were being awaited for about 17 years. On Friday, for the first time, terrorist Tahawwur Rana came face to face with NIA and a barrage of questions started.

According to sources, NIA asked Tahawwur about whom he met when he came to India and stayed here and where did these meetings take place. However, Tahawwur Rana did not cooperate in the investigation and kept avoiding NIA’s questions saying that he does not remember anything.

Tahawwur Rana has been kept in NIA’s head quarter in Delhi. NIA court has sent him to 18 days judicial custody. Only 12 people have been given access to the cell where Rana is locked up. Rana could be questioned for only 3 hours on Friday. Sources say that Tahawwur Rana is not giving satisfactory answers to any question. He is saying ‘I don’t remember’ and ‘I don’t know’ to most of the questions. Investigating officers also asked Tahawwur Rana about his family and friends, but he is not answering.

Long list of questions…
Sources say that the NIA is going to question Rana on all aspects related to the Mumbai attack. The list of questions is long. Now in the next phase of interrogation, an attempt will be made to gather information about the sleeper cells that were in contact with Tahawwur Hussain Rana and his on-ground operative David Coleman Headley during their visit to India.

Has Tahawwur Rana come to India before the attack?
Although Rana did not accompany Headley to most of the places, he had facilitated Headley’s visit by helping in setting up the Immigration Law Centre in Mumbai and other cover arrangements. He visited India at least once between 8 November 2008 and 21 November 2008 and accompanied Headley. Not only this, he presented himself as a legitimate businessman to give credibility to Headley.

NIA teams are in touch with various ATS teams for possible action based on Rana’s inputs. Rana was asked whom and where did he meet during his stay in India?

Headley particularly underwent extensive surveillance operations and Rana is accused of helping him in some of his activities under the guise of business activities. The main focus will be on locating the sleeper modules that helped Headley in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

When Headley came to India, he surveyed the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Nariman House (Jewish Chabad Centre) and Leopold Cafe etc. Headley went here after looking at the location. Rana had arranged to send Headley to India. The NIA will try to extract information about those who helped Headley. In coordination with Rana, he conducted recce of several places, following which he made video recordings and photography. He visited these places several times between 2006 and 2008.

Sleeper module from Delhi
Headley visited Delhi posing as a businessman. He was also suspected of planning future attacks in Delhi and monitored potential targets. He also possibly travelled to Goa to scout tourist spots. Surveillance details from Goa were shared with his handlers in Pakistan. There is evidence that Headley surveyed areas in Pune, including the Osho Ashram in Pune and possibly the Chabad House in Pune.

Headley allegedly visited Pushkar (Rajasthan) and other cities under the guise of tourism or business. He collected general intelligence and identified places frequented by foreign tourists.