Rana's interrogation video screened at trial for first time

Chicago, Jun 7: A video of FBI interrogation of Tahawwur Rana, a key suspect in the Mumbai attacks, has been screened for the first time by the prosecution in his trial at a court here, in which he is shown talking about ISI giving weapons to co-accused David Headley.

The October 2009 video recording produced by FBI before the court showed that LeT operative Headley had approached ISI to help Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian, get back to Pakistan where he once served as a doctor in army before being declared a deserter.

The 10-minute footage of the six-hour interrogation soon after his arrest on October 18 showed a tired Rana, with grey hair and beard, sitting on a table in a poorly-lit cell and being questioned by two FBI officials, who could be heard but can''t be seen in the video.

Headley used his personal links to favour Rana, FBI agent Jeffrey Parsons said while deposing before the court yesterday.

Rana, 50, had served in the Pakistani army as a doctor. He served in the Gulf War in Saudi Arabia and got injured there and recuperated in Germany.

After that, Rana was posted in the glacier region in Pakistan where he declined to go following which he was declared a deserter and could not travel to Pakistan again.

Headley, a Pakistani-American, "used his personal links to get me the favour", the FBI agent quoted Rana as stating. Parsons said he had interviewed Rana with another agent Benabides.

PTI