Hyderabad, November 6
There is a definite Pakistani link to the terror plot unearthed recently in the United States, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said today.
American citizen Headley, 49, and Pakistani-born Canadian citizen Tahawwur Hussein Rana, 48, were arrested by the FBI in the US recently for plotting attacks in India at the behest of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
“There is an obvious Pakistan link. If you have read the affidavit of the FBI agent filed in the court and reproduced in papers, there is a Pakistan link. David (Coleman) Headley visited Pakistan a number of times,” Chidambaram said here.
He was talking to reporters after reviewing the passing-out parade of the 61st batch of IPS probationers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy.
Following the advice of the FBI, “two or perhaps more persons” had been arrested in Pakistan, the Minister said.
However, he evaded a question on intelligence alert on possible terror attacks on the eve of the first anniversary of the Mumbai attacks. “Our security forces are capable of thwarting any attack,” he asserted.
The terror suspects, held by the FBI, had reportedly told the interrogators that the LeT planned attacks on National Defence College in Delhi, two high-profile boarding schools in North India and tourist destinations frequented by foreigners ahead of the 26/11 anniversary.
“If there are any targets I will not tell you in public,” Chidambaram said when asked about the possible targets. “Don’t create alarm. Security forces are vigilant and perfectly capable of thwarting any attack. There is no reason to raise any alarm,” he said.
On the Indian Mujahideen, he said it was some kind of “virtual” organisation. “A lot of people and a lot of groups claim that they belong to the Indian Mujahideen. We have arrested a number of people who claim to operate under the name of Indian Mujahideen whenever there was evidence. We will continue to apprehend anyone who does violent act in the name of Indian Mujahideen,” he said.
Replying to questions on Maoist activities, Chidambaram said the Centre was not carrying out any operation against Maoists but was only assisting the states in counter-insurgency measures and intelligence gathering.
Terming “Operation Green Hunt” as “media invention”, he said: “There is no such operation. The Green Hunt or whatever is a pure invention of the media.”
“The state governments are carrying out counter-insurgency measures against Naxalites wherever it is necessary. The Central government is providing assistance by way of central paramilitary forces, intelligence sharing and technical help,” he said and asserted that the state police forces were responsible for maintaining law and order.
Asked about the top Maoist leader Kishenji’s statement expressing readiness for conditional talks with the government, he said he did not see any such statement. “All this is in the media. I have not seen any written document or statement. I cannot comment on whatever you put out,” he said when his reaction was sought on a statement by a Sri Lankan official about the link between LTTE and Maoists.
To a query on the recent death of a kidney patient in Chandigarh because of delay in treatment caused by security restrictions
during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit, he hoped the SPG and the state police had learnt their lessons.
“The SPG is under the control of the PMO. I think the Prime Minister’s Office said what needed to be said that VIP security must be sensitive to concerns of people and emergency needs of people. What happened in Chandigarh is very unfortunate. The Prime Minister has expressed his distress and regret,” the Home Minister said.
Earlier, addressing IPS probationers, Chidambaram said India was fully prepared to face any challenge to its security, sovereignty and integrity.
“As a nation growing not only in numbers but also in influence, and growing as economic power, a regional power, an Asian power, we can never afford to sleep. We must always remain vigilant,” he said.
