MUMBAI: 26/11 Mumbai Terror attack operative David Coleman Headley, whose cross examination in the case continued today, expressed his vehement hatred for India, saying that ever since Indian planes bombed his school and people working there died during the India Pakistan war in 1971, he was looking for revenge which led to him joining the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Here are the top developments in the cross examination so far.
1. Headley says he had hatred for India since his childhood and had pleaded guilty to that.
2. He says that he had this hatred against India since December 7, 1971 when Indian planes bombed his school and it was damaged and people working there died.
3. Headley says that to avenge that bombing on his school, he joined LeT and this was one of the reasons of him joining the terrorist organisation.
4. Headley admits he was trying to organise a fund raising programme for Shiv Sena in the USA.
5. He, however, admitted that for the fund raising programme he was intending to invite Bala Saheb Thackeray to the US but there was no plan to attack him there.
6. Headley said that he was in touch with Rajaram Rege for that. He never met Bala Saheb or talked to him for inviting him to that programme.
7. Headley says he was willing to invite some other Shiv Sena leader for that programme after being told by Rege that Bala Saheb was old and not well.
8. Headley said that he cannot disclose the location of the jail where he was lodged in and also said that he cannot reveal the facilities he was getting there.
9. The court reprimanded Defence lawyer Wahab Khan for asking questions to witness without knowing the jail manual of the US, questions about his facilities he is getting in US prison like food, AC and conjugal access etc.
10. The court took on record that the ‘defence lawyer is crossing his limits in cross examination and trying to direct the court that what the court should do.’
11. Headley also says that it was not true that he is living a luxurious life in the US Prison.
Yesterday, Headley had admitted that a plot had been executed to kill Bal Thackeray but he managed to escape unharmed, adding that the assailant had been arrested but escaped from custody later.
He had also admitted that the ISI had massively funded his entire operation for the terror attack in Mumbai.
The India Pakistan War of 1971 was the direct military confrontation between India and Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Lasting just 13 days, it is considered to be one of the shortest wars in history.