NIA questions four persons whom Rana met

National Investigation Agency officials, probing the visit of Tahawwur Hussain Rana here, have got the names of four persons, who had allegedly met him during his stay.

National Investigation Agency officials, probing the visit of Tahawwur Hussain Rana here, have got the names of four persons, who had allegedly met him during his stay.

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NIA officials, including an officer of the rank of DYSP, telephonically contacted the four men, intelligence sources said.

Rana, a Canadian national who was arrested by FBI along with suspected LeT operative David Headley, an American national of Pakistan origin, came to Kochi on November 16 and 17 along with a woman accomplice.

They, however, had not utilised any facilities of the five star-cum-business hotel of the Taj group, hotel sources said.

Rana and the woman, who had booked room through Travelocity, a Travel agency website, had made pre-paid booking. They checked in at around 6 PM and checked out next day afternoon and had not used any service facility of the hotel, including food or water.

The duo had not used the hotel facilities including telephone, internet or travel desk, they said, adding Rana had met three or four persons at the hotel lobby.

The sources said though Rana had advertised in an English daily posing himself as Dr Rana, an immigration consultant, it was unlikely that he had met any person as they were in the hotel for a short duration. Besides, prior permission had not been sought by him for conducting such a recruitment.

The investigating agencies are also making enquiries with internet cafes near the hotel whether Rana had utilised the facilities, the sources said.