New Delhi: The visa papers of one of two alleged Mumbai conspirators now in US custody have been found and the other's are being traced, the Government said on Thursday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor told reporters in Parliament complex that the visa application papers of Pakistan-born Tahawwur Rana given to the Indian consulate in Chicago had been found.
But authorities were still looking for the papers of David Coleman Headley. Both Headley and Rana have been linked to the Mumbai terrorist attack that left 166 Indians and foreigners dead.
Media reports said that visa papers of both men were missing from the Indian consulate.
The consulate had issued visas to Rana and Headley to travel to India. Both made several trips between 2006 to 2008 to various Indian cities and allegedly helped the Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan to plan the 26/11 attacks.
"Rana's papers have been found and Headley's are being traced," Tharoor said.
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said the Government had sought a report from the Chicago consulate over the alleged disappearance of Headley's visa papers.
"We have asked for a preliminary report from the consulate general in Chicago. After I get the report, we will see how we can proceed with it," Krishna told reporters in Delhi.
"I would not prejudge anything that has appeared in the media but certainly the government is aware of its responsibilities and we will discharge them," he said.
Asked about India seeking Headley's extradition, Krishna said: "The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been cooperating with the Indian intelligence agencies. As and when the FBI completes its inquiry and investigation, we certainly will be able to get the outcome of that. Later on we will decided how to proceed."
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