New Delhi:
Who is the "Rahul" referred to repeatedly by the American citizen arrested by the FBI for allegedly plotting terror attacks against India?
That's what a team of Indian and American intelligence officials will try to figure out, starting Monday. The FBI says that after his arrest, David Headley revealed that he was referring to a prominent Indian actor with the first name Rahul.
David Headley, an American citizen, who lived in Pakistan for several years, was arrested in Chicago. The FBI says he was planning a Mumbai-like attack along with senior members of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
According to the FBI affidavit, on July 8, 2009, Headley wrote to Lashkar-e-Toiba Member A, "I think when we get a chance we should revisit our last location again and say Hi to Rahul." The LeT handler's reply: "To see Rahul is a good idea because I have some work over there for you too."
In his next email, Headley had two questions for his LeT handlers: "A visit to Rahul's place, is it for checking out real estate property like before or something different and if so tell me what you can please. Also, is it in Rahul's city or a different one?" Headley also asked "How long do you think I will have to stay in Rahul's place to complete the task?"
The government says it's risky to jump to any conclusions straight away. "The 'Rahul' mentioned by Headley is not any Rahul that I and you know,," declared P Chidambaram, Home Minister, on Friday.
The Mumbai police adds "As of now, none of the actors with the name Rahul have been given protection," says D Sivanandan of the Mumbai Police.
Investigators will have to go beyond the identity of the unknown Rahul and probe the entire scope of the conspiracy by Headley and his launch another Mumbai-type attack on Indian.
In the meantime, the United States has asked its citizens to stay alert during their travel to India. "The US government continues to receive information that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in India," the State Department said in its latest travel alert on India.
This replaces a similar travel alert issued by the State Department before the start of the festival season. "Terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where Americans or Westerners are known to congregate or visit," the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the State Department said.
That's what a team of Indian and American intelligence officials will try to figure out, starting Monday. The FBI says that after his arrest, David Headley revealed that he was referring to a prominent Indian actor with the first name Rahul.
David Headley, an American citizen, who lived in Pakistan for several years, was arrested in Chicago. The FBI says he was planning a Mumbai-like attack along with senior members of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
According to the FBI affidavit, on July 8, 2009, Headley wrote to Lashkar-e-Toiba Member A, "I think when we get a chance we should revisit our last location again and say Hi to Rahul." The LeT handler's reply: "To see Rahul is a good idea because I have some work over there for you too."
In his next email, Headley had two questions for his LeT handlers: "A visit to Rahul's place, is it for checking out real estate property like before or something different and if so tell me what you can please. Also, is it in Rahul's city or a different one?" Headley also asked "How long do you think I will have to stay in Rahul's place to complete the task?"
The government says it's risky to jump to any conclusions straight away. "The 'Rahul' mentioned by Headley is not any Rahul that I and you know,," declared P Chidambaram, Home Minister, on Friday.
The Mumbai police adds "As of now, none of the actors with the name Rahul have been given protection," says D Sivanandan of the Mumbai Police.
Investigators will have to go beyond the identity of the unknown Rahul and probe the entire scope of the conspiracy by Headley and his launch another Mumbai-type attack on Indian.
In the meantime, the United States has asked its citizens to stay alert during their travel to India. "The US government continues to receive information that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in India," the State Department said in its latest travel alert on India.
This replaces a similar travel alert issued by the State Department before the start of the festival season. "Terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where Americans or Westerners are known to congregate or visit," the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the State Department said.
