Pakistani-American convict in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, David Headley, told a Mumbai court on Thursday that terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) wanted to eliminate Bal Thackeray.
However, according to Headley, the person who was assigned the job to kill the late Shiv Sena chief was arrested.
We wanted to target the chief of Shiv Sena... His name was Bal Thackeray. LeT wanted to kill him wherever a chance arose. I knew that Bal Thackeray was the head of Shiv Sena. I have no first hand knowledge but I think an attempt was made by LeT to kill Bal Thackeray. I don’t know how this attempt was made. I think the person (who was sent to kill Thackeray) was arrested but he managed to escape from police custody. I don’t have first hand knowledge about this though.David Headley
The 55-year-old made the claim on the second day of questioning by Abdul Wahab Khan, the lawyer of Abu Jundal, an alleged key plotter of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, via a video link from the US.
Also read: How Deadly is the Headley Testimony?
Headley also told the court that he had visited the Sena Bhavan twice without specifying the date.
In a session by special judge GA Sanap, Headley claimed to have no knowledge of any other LeT targets besides Thackeray.
On the first day of questioning on Wednesday, Headley spilled the beans on how once US financed his trip to Pakistan.
He also claimed that he had “donated” about Rs 70 lakh to LeT till 2006, two years before the Mumbai attacks.
He, however, contradicted reports that he had received money from LeT.
I never received money from LeT... This is complete nonsense. I gave funds to LeT myself. I had donated more than 60 to 70 lakh Pakistani Rupees to LeT throughout the period I was associated with them. My last donation was made was in 2006.David Headley
He also said that after his arrest in 1998, the Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) of the US had financed his trip.
Headley has also faced conviction twice in 1988 and 1998 for alleged drug smuggling before the Mumbai siege.
Also, the terrorist had indulged in criminal activities and violated his plea bargain agreements with the US government, the court was told.
(With PTI inputs)
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