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Journalism of Courage
Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana has told a US court that his friend David Headley,convicted in 26/11 Mumbai attack,was an “unrepentant terrorist” and he had knowledge of latter’s “link” with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
In his latest submission before a Chicago court,Rana,however,has challenged the Government’s assertion that he does not require a fresh trail.
Last year,a grand jury in Chicago had found Rana guilty of providing material support to support LeT and plotting attack on a Danish newspaper along with Headley.
Though he was acquitted on charges of being involved in the 26/11 attacks,an Indian has asked the National Investigating Agency to produce him before it on March 13 to question him on his alleged role in the Mumbai massacre by Pakistan-based LeT terrorists in November 2008 that claimed 166 lives,including six Americans.
“Headley is an unrepentant terrorist who has repeatedly lied to those close to him,to law enforcement,to the government and to the jury,” alleged Rana’s attorney Patrick Blegen in a submission before the US court on Friday.
Blegen argues that 51-year-old Rana’s knowledge of “links” between Pakistani-American Headley and LeT,a designated terrorist outfit,is not enough evidence to prove him guilty and this there is the need of a fresh trial.
However,federal prosecutors have,argued,in their submissions,that the court should proceed with the motion to sentence him on these two counts ¿ providing material support to LeT and plotting attack on a Danish newspaper.
This could result him a maximum of 30 years in prison.
“The evidence presented at trial showed that defendant and Headley performed nearly identical roles with respect to the India and Denmark plots. Headley was tasked by Lashkar with performing surveillance of terrorist targets in both India and Denmark,” federal prosecutors said.
