India demands death for David Headley, all others involved in 26/11 attacks

Disappointed over the 35-year jail term awarded to David Headley by a US court, the government today said it wants death penalty for the LeT terrorist and all those who were involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

"We want death sentence for Headley and those who were involved in killing of 166 people in Mumbai. We will keep asking for his death sentence," Union Home Secretary R K Singh told reporters here.

He was reacting to the prison sentence given to Headley by the US Court for helping plot the 26/11 Mumbai terror carnage. The Pakistani-American escaped death penalty under a deal with the US government.

The Home Secretary said New Delhi would continue to press for the extradition of Headley notwithstanding his plea bargain with the US investigators under which he escaped death sentence as well as extradition to India.

"We will continue to press for extradition of Headley. The agreement (not to extradite him to India) is between the US and Headley, not with India," he said.

Singh said Headley was not only wanted in Mumbai attack case, but in other cases too, including cases related to hatching conspiracy to attack other places in India.

"Headley was involved not only in Mumbai conspiracy, but he also carried out recce in other places. Our request for his extradition stands. As far as sentence is concerned, all those involved in 26/11 should be given death," he said.

Asked about the involvement of operatives of Pakistan's ISI in the 26/11 case, Singh said India has given enough evidence to Pakistan on the perpetrators and it was the responsibility of the neighbouring country to bring all the conspirators to justice.

The government also said it will continue to press for extradition of Headley from the US.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the government was "slightly disappointed" over the quantum of sentence, saying the 52-year-old convict should have got a "severest sentence".

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