Headley as a Jew in Chabad House: cops

Sources said there could be a link between the recent terror alerts to Chabad houses and Headley’s visit. “It is suspected that Headley had visited the Chabad House in Pune posing as a Jew and also conducted a recce for identifying spots for terrorist attack in the city,” one of them said.

The Pune police had stepped up security outside the Chabad House in Pune within a week of the 26/11 terror strike,following a threat to the Jewish centre.

The Central intelligence agencies had also received a threat mail last month,saying that Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is planning to attack Jewish religious places in Pune,following which the police beefed up security outside the Chabad House at Koregaon Park and Ohel David Synagouge on Ambedkar Road. The two places still remain under police protection.

Rachel Kupchik of Chabad House said the Israel Embassy had shared the information about the terror alerts with the police,after which the security was beefed up. About Headley,she said,“Many Jews and Jewish Americans come to the Chabad House for prayers. Even if he had visited the Chabad House,it is very difficult to remember anything about him. We don’t maintain a register of people coming to the Chabad House as it is like a home for Jewish people in the city. Any person coming here as a Jew is welcomed.”

Investigations revealed that Headley was pretending to be a Jewish American while moving across India. The FBI has also recovered a book — How to Pray Like a Jew — from Headley when he was arrested in Chicago.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (special branch) Ravindra Sengaonkar confirmed that security had been provided to Chabad House following intelligence inputs. “We have also beefed up security around defence establishments and sensitive spots.”