In a first, Pakistani diplomats on NIA's 'wanted' list
What's the story
In a first, Pakistani diplomats have been named in the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) 'wanted' list.
The central body is seeking information about Amir Zubair Siddiqui, a visa counsellor at Pakistan High Commission in Colombo and three other Pakistani officers for planning terror attacks akin to Mumbai's 26/11 on the US, Israeli consulates and Army, Navy commands in South India in 2014.
Here's more.
Details
NIA seeking red corner notices from Interpol against Pakistani diplomats
The NIA is currently seeking from Interpol red corner notices (RCNs) against the Pakistani officers, who have been sent back to Islamabad.
According to Times of India, the NIA chargesheeted Siddiqui in February, but the other three diplomats are yet to be identified.
The other two are called 'Vineeth' and 'Boss alias Shah'. The fourth is accused of involvement in conspiracy but isn't 'wanted' yet.
The charges
US, Israeli consulates and Eastern Naval Command headquarters were targets
As per the NIA, between 2009 and 2016, the Pakistani officers:
-Hired Sri Lankans to mine data on defense installations, nuclear establishments and arms' movement
-Asked them to steal senior Indian Army officers' laptops and supply fake currency notes
-Aimed to attack Chennai's US consulate, Bengaluru's Israeli consulate and Visakhapatnam's Eastern Naval Command headquarters.
All the involved Sri Lankans have been arrested.
Other details
An attack on the 'wedding hall' by 'cooks' using 'spice'
America helped India with relevant information to nail the Sri Lankans. The plan to attack Chennai's US consulate was called 'wedding hall', to be carried out by 'cooks', essentially terrorists coming to India from Maldives. The bombs to be planted were referred to as 'Spice'.
The detained Lankans informed NIA about meeting Pakistani officers in Sri Lanka and two suicide attackers in Bangkok.