Has the FBI team skipped pune?

City cops unaware of FBI investigation into David Headley's activities in India; LeT terror suspect had visited Pune twice since last year

City cops unaware of FBI investigation into David Headley's activities in India; LeT terror suspect had visited Pune twice since last year

Even 48 hours after an FBI team landed in New Delhi to investigate Lashkar-e-Toiba suspect David Coleman Headley's activities in India, the Pune police has not been informed about the course ofu00a0 investigation.

Headley had visited Pune twice, on July 24, 2008 and March 16, 2009, and even visited the Osho ashram at Koregaon Park.

So far, neither the National Investigating Agency (NIA) nor the FBI have contacted the police or the FRO in the city.

The FBI team arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to hold discussions with their Indian counterparts, and share information on Headley's links with several people in the country, including those involved in the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks.

Terror threat
Strangely, the Pune police is not able to confirm whether the FBI or the NIA has sought its assistance to investigate what Headley was up to during his visit to the city.

Pune could be a likely terror target as it houses the headquarters of the Southern command, is the base for the National Defence Academy, the cradle of military leadership, and home to the Osho commune and the Jewish House.

Joint Commissioner of Police Rajendra Sonawane, said, "I have not received any information from either the NIA or the FBI, so I will not be able to comment on this. I don't know if they have contacted any other police official."

No queries
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravindra Sengaonkar, in-charge of foreigners' registration, too refused to comment on the issue. He dismissed the questions asked by this reporter stating, "I cannot divulge any information on this issue."

Ma Sadhana, the spokesperson of the commune, when asked whether the FBI team has sought any information from the commune, she replied in the negative. She said, "We have not received any queries."

The FBI, in its charge sheet filed in a US court, has stated that Headley conducted extensive surveillance of targets in Mumbaiu00a0 preceding the November 26 attacks.