To a Q of the Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, Headley
chose Ishrat Jahan. “I think Ishrat Jahan was an Indian national, not a
Pakistani, and was an LeT operative,” he said. Ishrat Jahan (19) was killed by
the Gujarat police in an alleged fake encounter near Ahmedabad in June 2004.
Javed Ghulam Sheikh, Zeeshan Johar and Ajmad Ali Akbar Ali Rana were also shot
dead along with her. Explosive disclosure for that one incident has been used
by opposition, political parties, so called social activists to hound the
Gujarat Govt insinuating them and fighting on religious overtures.
The disclosure is certain to ignite a fresh row around the encounter. While
spilling beans about involvement of Pakistan's army and intelligence agency in
terrorism in India, he said he knew ISI official Brigadier Riyaz being the
handler of LeT's top commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who was the mastermind of
26/11 attacks. Headley, who had visited Mumbai seven times to scout for
targets, revealed that plans to target Mumbai had started over a year before
26/11.
See the immediate reaction
– Cong spokesperson Tewari is quoted as asking - "But the fundamental question remains:
Whether Ishrat and her accomplices were killed in a fake encounter or
not?" Tewari said even if a person is a terrorist, he needs to be arrested
and needs to be brought to justice like Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Nation knows what to say to this ! … and what about the social activist who
reportedly minted money questioning the motives calling the dead innocent. A couple of months ago, calling its previous
order a “mistake,” the Supreme Court refused to extend interim bail to activist
and her husband in connection with an embezzlement case, and said that only a
larger bench should consider their plea.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
12th Feb 2016.
