Piecing together the investigations into terror suspects David Headley's footsteps, investigators have found that he had conducted a proper reconnaissance of not only Bhaba Atomic Research Centre but also of some Bollywood studios in northeastern suburb of the city.
The 49-year-old Headley, who has been under arrest in the US since October, had travelled to Chembur and Trombay many times and filmed the exits and entries of the BARC besides the entry of employees, official sources said in Mumbai on Sunday.
The terror suspect, who has been charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with being part of the conspiracy in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had also taken video shots of the nuclear installation by hiring a boat from Gateway of India.
The rear portion of the BARC, located on a hill top, is visible from the Arabian Sea. The investigators also comprising officials of National Investigation Agency, probing the role of Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana in India, suspect that Headley, during his boat ride, may have surveyed the mangroves located near the coast.
The security around the nuclear installation has been tightened and efforts were on to ensure proper cover in the mangroves located below the BARC, the sources said.
Security of NTPC's cold storage plant in the area was also being reviewed as the security agencies were apprehensive that while filming BARC, Headley may have conducted recce of it as well. The terror suspect was trained by Lashker in clandestine filming of vital installations.
The American-born terror suspect, who was allegedly close to top brass of Lashker-e-Taiba including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Hafeez Saeed, is also alleged to have carried of surveillance of some Bollywood studios.
The LeT has always spoken against the film culture and their first target in Jammu and Kashmir were the cinemas. The investigators were also trying to ascertain whether he had met any other Bollywood actor other than Rahul Bhat, son of noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhat.
Rahul has been questioned by the NIA officials on two occasions earlier. However, his father -- Mahesh -- says that his son has done his duty in approaching the security agencies and helped them in tracing the trail of Headley.
On the fresh development, the senior Bhatt said, "Rahul never took him (Headley) anywhere..That is fact! Rahul never moves with the Bollywood folks. Neither do I." PTI
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