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IB, RAW officials return without quizzing Headley

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Agencies

Posted: Nov 10, 2009 at 1601 hrs IST

Washington A team of Indian intelligence officials left the US disappointed after a week-long stay in Washington as they could not question American national David Coleman Headley, arrested by the FBI on charges of plotting a major terror attack in India at the behest of Pakistan-based LeT.

Sources familiar with the visit of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officials termed "bureaucratic" and "procedural" hurdles as the main reason for them not being successful in interrogation of Headley, who is now lodged in a Chicago jail.

49-year-old Headley, according to the FBI charge sheet, was being used by the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to target among others the National Defence College in New Delhi, the Doon school in Dehradun and Woodstock school in Mussoorie.

The Indian team, names of its members have not been revealed to the media so far, arrived in Washington on November 1 and was scheduled to grill Headley the next day.

However, the Indian team is believed to have spent most of their time in Washington and they could not make their planned trip to Chicago - where Headley and his co-conspirator Tahawwur Hussain Rana are lodged in a jail - to interrogate the duo, both Chicago-residents.

The team left for India through New York on November 8.

In Washington, officials familiar with the investigations said that the Indian officials had a series of meetings with their FBI counterparts during which the American intelligence officials shared their investigation and interrogation details with them.

However, the Indian team wanted to question Headley on different aspects of the terror plot. The officials were disappointed that they were not able to interrogate either of the two arrested, given that this was the prime objective of their trip, the sources said.

Post 26/11 there has been close cooperation between the Indian and American intelligence agencies.

Another source said that the reluctance on the part of the FBI to let a foreign intelligence agency interrogate one of the terror suspects under its custody was because its own investigation had not been completed.

The Indian team is expected to return to the US soon to question Headley, the sources said.

Headley was arrested on October 18 along with Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, by FBI at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport before boarding a flight to Philadelphia, intending to travel to Pakistan.

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cong drama by AMITABH on 27 Mar 2010

CONG GOVT MUST GIVE THE JUSTIFICATION OF DOING ALL THIS NON SENSE AND WASTING TAX PAYERS MONEY. THEY MUST TELL AFTER ACTION PLANS IF PAK STATE ACTORS INVOVLMENT IS ESTABLISHED . WILL THEY ATTACK PAK? MMS DONT HAVE GUTS TO ANNOY UNCLE SAM WHICH IS FUNDING CONG AND ENSURING ITS SURVIVAL.

US is not cooperating on Terrorism by Fahad on 15 Nov 2009

I think US is not cooperating on Terrorism, they are hiding something....

True colours by shyam kishore on 12 Nov 2009

It shows the real colours of the US . They are the most decietful people ever lived . They are using Pakistanis to wage their war . They are using Indian Intelligence to secure their interests . they do racial profiling to all . We must have a stand agains this imperialistic demon

Y Indians r degraded in US by Raju on 12 Nov 2009

yaaar y we r degraded in US. Our secrateries and heroes face shameful experiences. y they do that with us and in response expect a high deal of respect in India. This adds another incident of shame

U.S. by VERY ANNOYED INDIANS on 11 Nov 2009

TO THE EDITOR: WILL YOU PRINT THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BY INDIAN READERS AND NOT SUPRESS THEM BECASUE THEY ARE TRUE AND EXPOSES THE CULPRITS. WHY? WHY THIS INDIAN TEAM WAS NOT ALLOWED TO INTEROGATE THIS AMERICAN TERRORIST? WHY THE TEAM TOURED U.S. TO BEGIN WITH IN THAT CASE? WHY MANMOHAN KING IS ALLOWING C.B.I. OFFICE IN NEW DELHI IN THE NAME OF JOINT TERROR FIGHT WHICH ITSELF MAY BE WORKING AGAINST INDIAN STABILITY IN FACT. THE ACTIVITIES OF MANY U.S. BODIES AND PERSONNEL IN INDIA AS FACILITATED BY MANMOHAN KING PERSONALLY ARE HIGHTLY QUESTIONABLE? WHY MANMOHAN IS NOT RESPONDING TO ANY OF SUCH CONTROVERSIES?

Good time by Gary on 11 Nov 2009

I think they had a good time visiting strip clubs in washington during the week while they waited. Shacking well with goris.

I hope so by Rahul on 11 Nov 2009

@ Gary, I really hope they did had good time. These official tours can be really boring and even stressful if you are heading back empty hand I also hope Indian govt. took care of the expenses ;)

Mr by Stalin on 11 Nov 2009

Again U.S has proved that it is concerned about its own security and not worried about India's security or any other countries. India must improve its own intellegence and fight its own war againest terrorism rather than depend own U.S or any other country.

We open Gandhi Samadhi even for dogs of US but what we get in turn by Naveed on 10 Nov 2009

Their dogs piss at our respected places and our most high ranked with special powers were not even allowed to see a suspect? As I said before we are getting slaves to US uncontiously. Hope now our people wakeup and discover their value.

India SURROGATE OF.... by VERY ANNOYED INDIANS on 11 Nov 2009

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. MANOHAN AS A TRAITOR HAS SOLD INDIA OFF TO U.S. AND THE MEDIA IS ALSO CONTROLLED BY THEM. THE REST OF THE MINISTERS IN MANMOHAN GANG ARE ALSO BUSY SELLING INDIA PEACE BY PEACE FROM EDUCATION TO CULTURE TO FOREIGN POLICY AND EVERYTHING IS BEING DESTROYED.

FALTU! by HarishChandra on 10 Nov 2009

Sale kha pee (pun intended) ke khali hath vapas aagaye!

Indian investigation is useless and worthless? by Rajendran PK Thrissur on 10 Nov 2009

This clearly shows the influence of Mr.Manmohan Singh and group on USA administration. Also shows, the failure of diplomacy, organization ability, lack of political leadership. These guys must leave to USA after having confirmation regarding the meeting the suspect. In this regard, a question arises. After 26/11 at Mumbai - FBI and their investigation team have reached here and they have questioned the only captured terrorist and others by saying that USA lost their citizens in the attack. Our officials, given a warm welcome and they did whatever they wants to in India. In the similar situation why Indian officers failed to meet suspects in USA for our investigation? Do they really assessed that Indian investigation is useless and worthless? Eventhough the fact is so, we everybody knows, but the denial to our request really shame to all Indians and it hurting all. This also shows that USA is really not wanted to help India in investigation those we really wants to do..

Know your worth by danzi on 10 Nov 2009

This clearly shows the US apathy towards India, the pakis are their favourite, no matter what happens they will never allow india to gain an upper hand in Asia or any where else,Indians still dont get it, of course there are some fields where we can have partnerships but do not keep giving in to the US, see in this case inspite of all the bonhomie between us & them they have indirectly showed us what we are worth, so what is India gonna do now... is Rahul baba, PC, MMS listening!!! shame on you guys, noe self esteem no patriotism, in reality its we indian who vote for these Rats the biggest fools...

not doing homework by Billy P Domes on 10 Nov 2009

It appears that our intelligence sleuths proceeded to the US to interrogate Headley without first confirming from the FBI whether it was possible or not to do so. This besides being a wild goose chase, also reflects the lackadaisical manner in which the intelligence setup in the country functions. Those responsible for this fiasco should be hauled up and sternly warned that such embarrassment are not repeated again.

You are right by Kamal on 11 Nov 2009

What would you expect from the Indian Intel who even do not do their homework properly.

American indifference by Hero Vaz on 10 Nov 2009

The return of the Indian intelligence officials, after drawing a blank in the US, shows how low the Americans rate India as an ally in fighting terrorism and, also, how little is America's concern for India's security interests. In the American media, too, India practically gets no mention unless there is something very tragic or very adverse to report. India has to wake up to these awful facts. India's Foreign Service and propoganda machine need to be brought out of their moribund state. In this, India has a lot to learn from China and Pakistan.

once again proves that we have no idea of what to do by Srinivasa R Boppana on 10 Nov 2009

Looks like there are lot of blogs on this site and people are voicing their feelings and opinions but is anything being done on this feedback or is this just a sounding board if something is being done why are the officials whi failed to achieve their goal not being debriefed on their failure etc and what is the use of an external affairs ministry if they have not cleared such road blocks before this team got there or at least share the information that the FBI had with this team before their trip was planned and make a decision whether this trip was required in the first place or is the following the attitude Jai gandhi accounts as long as it not my money what do i care how it gets spent

IB-RAW by Kalpathy Venkkataraman on 10 Nov 2009

Between IB and RAW which one is responsible for the interrogation of the suspect in the US? My guess is RAW which is responsible for external intelligence. It only proves that there is no seamless transfer of information takes place between agencies. The same situation persisted in US before 9/11. Had CIA and FBI communicated information better, there would have been no 9/11. Chidambaram should take lessons from history. In India, the inter agency chiefs fight for prominence and in that process, the national security is forgotten.

Wild goose chase by K.Vijayakumar on 10 Nov 2009

Why did the government, which boasts about its austerity drive, send these officers to the US without getting FBI's permission to interrogate an American citizen in its custody? In any case what more would our intelligence officers have got by interrogating Hadely than what FBI got from him?

in intelligence- no body knows all- there is an different angle- if you know the language by ram van on 11 Nov 2009

No intelligence agency in the world is 100% know all. Based on the suspects background, (Pakistani) nationallity/ethinicty, if the guy spits out two word in Urdu or other language FBI will be clueless, and got to get their English/Urdu dictionary out. Now at least people from the same sub continent may be able to better read the body language and understand the language. Now austerity drive got nothing to do with gaining some valuable insight. Remember if the Mumbai police had 10 trained cops with $1000 worth weapons near Taj/Train stations, they might have saved Indian government $80 Million dollars, in insurance payout to Taj and other properties and saved lots of lives. Whichever way you count the bean, it is worth the dime to spend on this trip. Now stop blaming this IB/RAW guys.

IB, RAW officials return without quizzing Headley by N. Sridharan on 10 Nov 2009

If the intention is to bungle, job well done. Today every Tom, Dick or Harry can come to important positions in IAS, IFS, IB or RAW (you only need to know which string to pull). So, people with the professional knowledge, protocols etc occupy crucial positions. Their plans and actions will be like this only. Happy picnic trip for selected officers to USA at Govt (tax payers') expense. No body is accountable to explain the fiasco. Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka could have as well gone to Washington (just as they represented India in the Beijing Olympics at our expense). India belongs to the Nehru dynasty in return for giving the Trimurthi Bhavan.

interrogation by vj on 10 Nov 2009

This is leasson to indian`s,if this happend in India vice versa,our politicians should have allowed FBI to interrogate first and followed by our intelligence.Its shame!always remember first tight our intelligence and system safe to check these western guys comming in,what`s their visit purpose where they go,what they do etc.Looking on to their passport and skin color should be stopped,now terrorists are using western people as their weapons and rewarding if they success.He visited and enjoyed his trip to destroy our dignity,our system did not detect it.Too bad!!

Bofors "investigation" wasted more money than the scam itself. by Jatin on 10 Nov 2009

The only purpose for those high ranking IB and RAW officials was to have a gala tour to US at tax payers%u2019 money. They never did their home work, never set an appointment to have Hadley interrogated and moreover their main intension was to visit sons/daughters and other relatives there (all big bosses in India send their kids abroad to %u201Cstudy%u201D with their ill gotten money as Govt officers) and some shopping. We have seen these too often. We can remember that, so called "investigation" for Bofors scam wasted more money than the scam itself.

Americans work on appointments by Raj Thackrey on 10 Nov 2009

Probably its a shockiing news for the indian beuraucrats that americans work on agenda and appointments, and as they are not in india, they also need to seek a permission before visiting US to check if they are allow to carry out work they intend to or not. Atleast they had a nice holiday on the indian tax payers money and also now there is another opportunity for a second visit lol.

Corrupt Officials and Politicians Join hands to allow terrorist to flee under their very nose by Pujari Ravi on 10 Nov 2009

The Country's Intelligence Agencies have once again made mess of not succeeding either in detecting Headly or Rana's visits to Bombay and carrying on their dealy dirty work under the very nose of so called Top Most Police.Thaae very fact that Hemmant Karkera,Roy and others spent more time Po lice Club trying to pull down each other and more being of all parties and the politivcal culprits exposeddistracted by Political Bosses to manage to win elections by hook or crook were misled to pursue wrong goals that the allowed terrorists to manage in the city and run their anti national activities.Let this aspect be enquired into by the Parliamentary Committee

Lack of Planning by V.K.Dhir on 10 Nov 2009

Why did the Indian Officials leave for U.S.A. without seeking FBI permission to question Headley ? What a waste of money and time. Were they on a vacation?

Underestimating the big brother by Sourav on 10 Nov 2009

Why at all our agencies did take the trouble to go the US and poke their nose in affairs such as interrogation of a suspected terrorist, when their Big Brother was looking into the matter? Big Bro,of course, can come to India anytime and airlift an witness of some 26/11 or the like, if reports from news agencies, which obviously was hushed up later, are to be belived. But, then remember Big Brother that he is.

FB don't trust IB and RAW! WoW by KVSKumar on 10 Nov 2009

The explanation "Another source said that the reluctance on the part of the FBI to let a foreign intelligence agency interrogate one of the terror suspects under its custody was because its own investigation had not been completed" gives the impression that FB feared Indian Intelligence to jeoparadise FB's investigation. What a close co-operation! OR is it closed co-operation?

Reciprocal by RameshTR on 10 Nov 2009

How come we readily obliged FBI and other US agencies as soon as 26/11 happened but they made us wait for a week and still did not allow our agencies to do some investigations. When will we learn?

RECIPROCAL by Rana on 10 Nov 2009

Never. We will never learn. We will keep making the same mistakes again and again. Mark my words.

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