Kochi, Nov 15 (IANS) A senior intelligence official in Kerala Sunday confirmed that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) suspect Tahawwur Hussain Rana visited Kochi last November and stayed in the city for two days.
The top intelligence official attached to the state police, speaking to IANS on condition of anonymity, said they have confirmed the visit of Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, whom the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested in the US last month along with LeT suspect David Coleman Headley for plotting fresh terror attacks in India.

“We were inquiring into reports of Rana’s visit and it has now become clear that he was here last November and stayed at a hotel here,” the official said but declined to give any details.

The sleuths have established that Rana declared the purpose of his visit as migration consultancy, and had put an advertisement in an English daily asking people interested in migrating to the US and Canada to meet him.

Rana was in the city Nov 16 and 17.

State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also confirmed that the intelligence officials have traced Rana’s visit to Kochi.

“Inquiries are being made now with the help of the federal investigating agencies if this Rana is the same Rana who is now under arrest in the US,” he told reporters.

Police have also tracked down the telephone numbers Rana called during his visit and are inquiring about all these contacts.

Senior officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are expected to arrive here soon to probe Rana’s visit in detail.