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Journalism of Courage
While raising the issue of biggest banking heist in the US involving an Indian company,Washington Monday indicated that Mumbai 26/11 conspirator David Coleman Headley has opposed his interrogation by Indian authorities. This was conveyed by the US officials during the 4th Indo-US strategic dialogue.
India had asked for limited custody of Headley and his accomplice,Tahawwur Hussain Rana,by extraditing them to India for more information and to face trial in November 2008 attack. Concerned about cyber security threat,the US has sought Indias help to probe the $45 million heist.The US prosecutors last month had accused a Pune-based Electra Card Services (ECS) of being used to make forged withdrawal by using cloned American Express ATM cards in more than 25 countries.
The heist was done through online payment gateway like ECS,which help route payments from banks to retailers each time a card is swiped. Home ministry officials who attended the meeting said these payment solution providers are certified by the PCI Security Standards Council,created by global cards like Visa and Mastercards. An email to ECS remained unanswered.
On Headley,the US officials cited his plea bargain with them to point out the difficulty in allowing India to further quiz him. US Deputy Assistant Attorney General of criminal division Bruce Swartz met Home Secretary R K Singh to discuss the issues related to Headley and the bank heist. We will continue our cooperation on Mumbai attacks, Swartz said.
The two countries have also cooperated on the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks,and continue to work together to fight terrorism,organised crime and threats to the internal security of both countries, said an Indo-US factsheet on international security released after the dialogue.
