Headley will help nail mastermind of 26/11 terror attack: Defence expert

Defence expert P.K. Sehgal on Wednesday said Pakistan-born American terror operative David Coleman Headley's appearance at a special video court will help in nailing Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi, the masterminds of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Headley's appearance at the video-conference of the TADA court is an achievement for the NDA government , P.K Sehgal said.

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"This is a mega achievement. Ever since the Mumbai attack took place the UPA government, our present government have been wanting to interrogate him. Through great amount of tact and diplomacy the Americans made sure that we do not have direct access to him. If they are now permitting video conferencing with him(Headley), it will help us in nailing Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi. They were the mastermind and closely associated in every possible way with David Headley. So, David Headley becomes a prime witness against them," Sehgal told ANI here.

"Headley will give us concrete evidence which will help in nailing prime terrorists of Pakistan who are roaming freely. So, it is a mega achievement for this government," Sehgal added.

A special TADA court today asked Headley, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, to appear before the court through video links on December 10.

"One of the key conspirators in 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, David Headley has been asked to appear before this court through video links on December 10. We had moved to the court on the basis of the judgment passed by the US Court that David Headley being one of the conspirators, should be joined as one of the accused along with Indian citizen Abu Jundal," Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor told the media.

Headley, accused of conducting a special reconnaissance of targets before the Mumbai terror attack, was sentenced to 35 years' imprisonment by a US court. He had entered into a plea, after bargaining an agreement with the US government.