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Headley bought red maulis for Qasab & Co from Siddhivinayak
The sacred thread tied on Ajmal Qasab’s wrist on the night of 26/11, which even led to the initial impression that he may not be from Pakistan, was purchased at Siddhivinayak temple by co-conspirator David Coleman Headley.
The red mauli, one of 15 that Headley picked up during his last visit to Mumbai in July 2008, was delivered to Lashkar bosses in Pakistan, and later distributed to the 10 terrorists who stormed the city.
Since none of them were expected to be caught alive, a highly placed source in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) told Mumbai Mirror, this was done to create an impression that there was no foreign hand in the attack.
“During his last visit to Mumbai in July 2008, Headley purchased 15 threads when he conducted a surveillance of Siddhivinayak temple. He has admitted that he paid the Indian-rupee equivalent of US$1 for them,” said the NIA source, who asked not to be named.
Sources in the Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) also confirmed that Headley had bought maulis on several occasions from Siddhivinayak temple during his visits to Mumbai between September, 2006 and July, 2008.
He had first visited the temple with a local contact, who had told Headley that the sacred thread was worn only by Hindus, as they believed it protected them from evil.
Headley had picked up a mauli for himself, and when he went to Pakistan during the course of the recce period, LeT leaders had noticed the thread and asked him about it.
“Headley told them it was from Siddhivinayak temple, and was worn mostly by Hindus. He advised the LeT bosses that the attackers should put them on in order to confuse Indian security agencies,” the NIA source said.
As a four-member team of the NIA, led by Loknath Behera, is interrogating Headley inside a US jail over the last four days, information trickling in from there is giving security agencies more insight about the meticulous planning of the 26/11 attacks.
Sources said Headley also admitted that it was his idea to arrange identity cards, with Hindu names on them, from Arunodaya Degree and PG College at Vedre Complex, Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad.
These were recovered from Qasab and the remaining dead terrorists. Headley had first come to India in September, 2006 on the pretext of launching an immigration firm.
He had hired an office space in Tardeo and had started the recruitment process for his company. During his stay, he visited several places in Mumbai and other cities in India, where he surveyed sensitive installations and prominent places.
He made four other extended trips – in February and September 2007, and April and July 2008 – each time taking pictures and shooting videos of various targets, including those attacked on 26/11, Siddhivinayak temple, Mahalaxmi temple in Tardeo, the Bombay Stock Exchange, and the Marriott hotel.
The information revealed by Headley to the NIA assumes more significance in the light of the acquittal of two people, Fahim Ansari and Mohammad Sabahuddin, who were accused of being LeT’s local conspirators.
While the meticulous planning of the 26/11 attacks suggested that someone in India had played a key role, security agencies are now saying that Headley alone was that crucial resource.
Headley bought red maulis for Qasab & Co from Siddhivinayak, News - Mumbai - Pune Mirror,Pune Mirror
The sacred thread tied on Ajmal Qasab’s wrist on the night of 26/11, which even led to the initial impression that he may not be from Pakistan, was purchased at Siddhivinayak temple by co-conspirator David Coleman Headley.
The red mauli, one of 15 that Headley picked up during his last visit to Mumbai in July 2008, was delivered to Lashkar bosses in Pakistan, and later distributed to the 10 terrorists who stormed the city.
Since none of them were expected to be caught alive, a highly placed source in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) told Mumbai Mirror, this was done to create an impression that there was no foreign hand in the attack.
“During his last visit to Mumbai in July 2008, Headley purchased 15 threads when he conducted a surveillance of Siddhivinayak temple. He has admitted that he paid the Indian-rupee equivalent of US$1 for them,” said the NIA source, who asked not to be named.
Sources in the Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) also confirmed that Headley had bought maulis on several occasions from Siddhivinayak temple during his visits to Mumbai between September, 2006 and July, 2008.
He had first visited the temple with a local contact, who had told Headley that the sacred thread was worn only by Hindus, as they believed it protected them from evil.
Headley had picked up a mauli for himself, and when he went to Pakistan during the course of the recce period, LeT leaders had noticed the thread and asked him about it.
“Headley told them it was from Siddhivinayak temple, and was worn mostly by Hindus. He advised the LeT bosses that the attackers should put them on in order to confuse Indian security agencies,” the NIA source said.
As a four-member team of the NIA, led by Loknath Behera, is interrogating Headley inside a US jail over the last four days, information trickling in from there is giving security agencies more insight about the meticulous planning of the 26/11 attacks.
Sources said Headley also admitted that it was his idea to arrange identity cards, with Hindu names on them, from Arunodaya Degree and PG College at Vedre Complex, Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad.
These were recovered from Qasab and the remaining dead terrorists. Headley had first come to India in September, 2006 on the pretext of launching an immigration firm.
He had hired an office space in Tardeo and had started the recruitment process for his company. During his stay, he visited several places in Mumbai and other cities in India, where he surveyed sensitive installations and prominent places.
He made four other extended trips – in February and September 2007, and April and July 2008 – each time taking pictures and shooting videos of various targets, including those attacked on 26/11, Siddhivinayak temple, Mahalaxmi temple in Tardeo, the Bombay Stock Exchange, and the Marriott hotel.
The information revealed by Headley to the NIA assumes more significance in the light of the acquittal of two people, Fahim Ansari and Mohammad Sabahuddin, who were accused of being LeT’s local conspirators.
While the meticulous planning of the 26/11 attacks suggested that someone in India had played a key role, security agencies are now saying that Headley alone was that crucial resource.
Headley bought red maulis for Qasab & Co from Siddhivinayak, News - Mumbai - Pune Mirror,Pune Mirror
