Book may unravel Headley game plan

David Coleman Headley, the Pakistan-born American Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) activist charged with conspiracy in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, had an unusual interest in Jewish structures in India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has discovered a book containing details of such structures from a suitcase left behind by Headley at the Jogeshwari residence of his associate, Bashir Sheikh.

NIA sleuths believe the discovery could help join the dots in the pattern of terror attacks on Jewish targets in the country.

The book, India’s Jewish Heritage: Ritual, Art and Life Cycle, has a comprehensive mention of the Nariman House in Mumbai and the Chabad house in Pune. The Nariman House, a Jewish synagogue in Colaba, was targeted by terrorists during the 26/11 attacks, while the Pune bakery blast last month took place close to the Chabad house.

“The book seized from Headley’s belongings indicates that he was keen to learn about the Jewish structures and settlements in India,” said a central intelligence officer. Another aspect which has intrigued the investigators is the mention of all Jewish structures and settlements across the country.

The discovery lends credence to the theory that Headley, during his March 2009 to India, wanted to finalise synchronised terror strikes on Jewish houses located in different cities. 

The FBI, which arrested him in Chicago in October 2009, had seized a book, How to Pray Like a Jew, from him. It is known that he even visited Nariman House in July 2008 posing as an American Jew.

The NIA has also recovered the cash memo for the book and found out that it was bought from a popular book store situated in a luxury hotel in South Mumbai. Enquiries with the bookstore have revealed that the book was purchased before the 26/11 attacks.    

According to the investigators, the suitcase was left behind with Sheikh by Headley during his last visit to India in March 2009. Sheikh, a milk dairy owner, was known to Headley’s aide Tahawwur Rana and had been deported from the US in 2005.

“Sheikh had received Headley at Mumbai airport during his first visit in September 2006. Bashir had booked Headley in Outram Hotel in South Mumbai and the latter then shifted as a paying guest in Breach Candy,” the officer said.

Headley had kept two of his suitcases and a fax machine in Sheikh’s house, during his last visit; he picked up one suitcase and left the other behind.

The security agencies, meanwhile, have alerted all Jewish pockets in the country to be on guard. “We have already alerted all cities and states where there are Jewish people and structures of importance,” the officer added.