M A I N   N E W S

Headley sentence disappoints India,
US defends jail term
Salman Khurshid says India to press for
extradition of 26/11 mastermind
Tribune News Service

Justifying stand, US maintains... Headley testified against co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana, who was now serving a 14-year sentence in federal prison Headley provided extensive details about accused terrorist leader Ilyas Kashmiri and his network. Ilyas was indicted in 2009 Answered questions from Indian law enforcement agencies and assisted US investigators in bringing criminal charges against five other terrorists Provided US law enforcement authorities with extensive details about the structure, personnel, methods, abilities and plans of the LeT

New Delhi, January 25
India today said it would have liked a “severer sentence” being given to LeT operative David Coleman Headley for his role in the Mumbai attack even as the US justified the 35-year sentence awarded to him.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said India would continue efforts to press for his extradition to this country so that he could be tried in an Indian court. “I can simply say that an American court has recognised the role of an accused in perpetrating this crime in India. It is at least a good beginning,” he added.

The minister said India was a little disappointed with the punishment awarded to Headley. “But the judge is bound by the structured system of justice delivery in the US. The judge has taken into account the maximum...it’s a beginning.”

However, the US Embassy in New Delhi said the 35-year imprisonment awarded to the Pakistani American marked another step in the US efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the Mumbai carnage.

It said the sentence reflected both severe punishment for his role in the heinous crime and a decision by the US Department of Justice not to seek the death penalty.

The decision, the US mission said, was taken because of Headley’s willingness to cooperate with law enforcement authorities - American, Indian and others - to help the perpetrators to justice and prevent other terrorist attacks. Headley provided information that was of substantial value in America’s efforts to combat international terrorism and to save lives.

To justify Washington’s stand, the embassy said Headley testified against a co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana, who was now serving a 14-year sentence in federal prison; Headley provided extensive details about accused terrorist leader Ilyas Kashmiri and his network. Ilyas was indicted in 2009. Headley answered questions from Indian law enforcement agencies and assisted US investigators in bringing criminal charges against five other terrorists. He also provided US law enforcement authorities with extensive detail about the structure, personnel, methods, abilities and plans of the LeT.

The embassy said India and the US were working together to see that those responsible for the Mumbai mayhem and other acts of terrorism were brought to justice, wherever they might be. Home Secretary R K Singh stated that India would keep pressing for Headley’s extradition.

The BJP and the Congress also demanded that the government should continue its efforts to seek Headley’s extradition to India so that he could be tried in an Indian court.

Demanding death penalty for Headley, the BJP said he should be extradited to face trial in Indian courts for the Mumbai attack."The sentence (of 35 years awarded to Headley) handed down to Headley is perhaps for the death of six Americans killed on Indian soil. What about the other people killed across Mumbai in the ghastly act?’’ asked BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy.