LeT men used Indo-Pak match as cover for a recce

The handler of American-born Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley carried out a reconnaissance when he came to the Capital in 2005 on the pretext of watching a Indo-Pak cricket match, according to an investigation report.

The handler of American-born Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley carried out a reconnaissance when he came to the Capital in 2005 on the pretext of watching a Indo-Pak cricket match, according to an investigation report.

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Headley while giving this information during questioning by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reportedly said his handler Sajid Majid along with another LeT terrorist Abdur Rehman Hashim alias Pasha had visited India using the one-day match in 2005 as a cover.

The match, which was played on April 17, 2005, was historic since the then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was among the VVIP spectators along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. India had lost the match by 159 runs.

"Sajid, of course did not reveal anything about this visit to me. However, Abdur Rehman had given a detailed narration of this visit to India in April 2005," Headley was quoted as saying in the 106-page report of the NIA.

This report, which has been prepared after nearly 34-hours of questioning over a period of one week in Chicago, quoted Headley, the Pakistani-American who carried out reconnaissance of all the targets of 26/11 Mumbai strikes, as saying that Sajid and Rehman crossed into India through Wagah border.

The duo spent some time in Delhi during which they had carried out a recce of some places including National Defence College here and had "possibly gone to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun," Headley told his interrogators.

"On their way back, Abdur Rehman recollected that Sajid was extremely nervous at Wagah gate," Headley said while replying to questions by NIA.

India secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice against both Sajid and Abdur Rehman recently for their role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.

The 34-year-old Sajid has been with Lashker-e-Taiba outfit for nearly 16 years and according to Headley, he stays near the airport in Lahore, the Lashker terrorist said, adding that Sajid was arrested in Dubai once and could get out using his "lashker connections."

The handler of Headley had undergone plastic surgery and had a good understanding of computers, it was stated.