IB identifies Headley, Rana's Kerala contact

Investigations in the Headley-Rana case have revealed the involvement of a Kerala-based man, who has been part of the immigration business.

The Intelligence Bureau has confirmed that Lashkar terrorists David Headley and Thahawoor Hussain Rana had been in touch with a man named Shameer after they had reached Kerala in November last year. 

Intelligence sources have told website hindusthansamachar.com that the phone records of Rana's cell number, which he had used during his stay in Kochi, had confirmed the involvement of Shameer.

Rana had spoken to Shameer as latest as a week ago, said intelligence sources.

The Kerala police said they were on the lookout for Shameer and that he would be soon arrested.

IB sources said Rana and Headley had got in touch with Shameer through their Lashkar leader Shaikh Abdul Rahiman.

A top-ranking official of the Kerala police said the police was also working on tracing sleeper cells in Kerala and also in gauging the extent of network terrorist organisations have within the state.

Sources also confirmed that both Headley and Rana were under the control of Shaikh Abdul Rahiman.

Meanwhile, the IB is also tracking the presence and network of C M A Basheer, the former president of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India, who was also in touch with Headley and Rana.

Basheer has been on the run from the Indian police and is a wanted criminal on the Interpol records.