Team Herald

PANJIM: The research was done and dusted. All 1666 statements of witnesses were read, which gave Thorat an incisive account of not just how David Headley planned the attacks but the nameless heroes and heroines who helped victims – like the head of the blood bank in the main hospital Dr Lanjewad, the announcer in the VT station who warned people and those who rushed to give blood – “a majority blood donors were actually Muslims”, said Thorat in an extensive chat with Herald before the Goa launch of his internationally acclaimed book.

One piece of the jigsaw remained, meeting Headley, who was in an undisclosed detention centre in the US. It was virtually an impossible task. Thorat said he then used his massive network of contacts in America’s security establishment to set up the meeting. But even he was shocked at the Headley’s attitude and the treatment he got.

“He always sits with a big mug of Starbucks coffee. When I entered his room, he sat there, fully in command, almost arrogant. He looked at said, “Likh rahe ho. Tum bhi likh lo (so you are writing a book, you too write)”. Throat said Headley is a master at giving evasive and vague responses to all questions but showed he knew many people in Bombay and he clearly hated the city. He abused those living in Mumbai with every sentence. He incidentally recalled the name of the only Muslim officer from India from the group of four who came to speak to him, the only access of 34 hours India has got.

According to Thorat, Headley was almost affirmative about his role in the Mumbai terror attacks and was “brazen about it”. “He is a thrill seeker who has often sold off his partners and turned informer when he is caught. For him it’s a game,” said Thorat.

So how did the meeting end? “Headley just got bored and walked off. I had kept my ego outside anyway and wanted to see him and his body language. That was achieved.”

For the former DySP of Panjim who studied at MES College Vasco, this surely was an achievement.