After Ajmal Kasab’s execution, it will now be the turn of the US to bring two more terror suspects, David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, to justice in the next two months.
Headley pleaded guilty to all charges made by the FBI. He agreed to cooperate with US investigators to
avoid the death penalty and possible extradition to India or Denmark.
“His sentencing is likely to happen in January,” said a security source, who is in touch with US officials. Rana is to be sentenced on December 4. With the help of Rana, Headley set up base in Mumbai on the instructions of the ISI and Lashkar to recce targets that included the places struck during 26/11 attacks.
"Although, Rana was acquitted by the US court from the charge of participating in the Mumbai attack, but the court found enough evidence to convict him on the charges of providing support to the LeT for planning other terror strikes. In addition, he is an accused here in India, along with David Coleman Headley, in the larger conspiracy to carry out a series of terror strike of which the 26/11 attack was a part. We are keenly awaiting the court judgments," said the source.
In India, both Headley and Rana were charged by the National Investigation Agency for the larger terror conspiracy, along with seven Pakistanis -two serving ISI officers -major Iqbal and major Samir Ali, LeT patron Hafiz Saeed, his two lieutenants Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Sajid Majid, former Pakistani army major Abdul Rehman Hashim, alias Pasha, and al Qaeda military commander Ilyas Kashmiri, who is believed to be killed in a drone attack in Pakistani tribal areas in June last year.
All have been charged with planning to target the National Defence College in Delhi, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai and various Chabad houses all over India.