HINDU TERRORIST CONVICTED FOR 25 YEARS IN US

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

PRESS RELEASE

SIKH FEDERATION (UK)

Issued - 28 April 2005

SIKH FEDERATION (UK) WELCOMES US COURT DECISION TO CONVICT HINDU TERRORIST FOR 25 YEARS

A Hindu businessman from Britain has been found guilty, by a jury at New Jersey District Court in Newark, of attempting to sell missiles to terrorists said to be planning to attack planes in the United States. Hemant Lakhani, 69, from Hendon, North London was also convicted of illegal weapons brokering, two counts of money laundering and for importing merchandise into the US using false statements. He now faces 25 years in jail.

Lakhani was arrested in August 2003 in an FBI sting after presenting a sample shoulder-fired missile to an informant posing as a member of a Somali terrorist group in a Newark hotel room. He told the agent rockets he was selling could be used to shoot down 10 to 15 aeroplanes simultaneously on the second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist outrage, and offered a further 50 missiles. Lakhani had demanded $5m (£3.1m) for the 50 missiles. Lakhani is also said to have offered to supply anti-aircraft guns, tanks and tons of plastic explosive. He also allegedly claimed he could provide a "dirty bomb" to spread deadly radiation.

When Lakhani was arrested, British anti-terrorist police raided two addresses in London - one of which was Lakhani's home. Scotland Yard said the raids were conducted at the request of the FBI. As many as 20 detectives broke down the front door of the semi-detached house in Hendon. Officers also raided another address used by Lakhani nearby. Scotland Yard anti-terrorist officers found catalogues of Soviet-made armaments, tanks and plastic explosive at his home.

Following Lakhani's arrest India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), said it was investigating Lakhani's background and his links in India. They said: "We are trying to find out more about him. We have no information about him at the moment. We are trying to verify exactly who he is." Almost two years later it is hardly surprising the Indian CBI is silent.

Intelligence sources in the UK have said: "It is well known that Indian arms dealers have long been involved in procuring weapons from Russia and the former Soviet Union. New Delhi has traditionally acquired most of its military hardware from Moscow, its ally during the cold war. The role of Indian middlemen in brokering arms deals has come under intense scrutiny before, when a team of investigative journalists uncovered widespread corruption in India's defence ministry several years ago."

A source close to British intelligence described Lakhani as a "known arms dealer" who was thought to conduct most of his business with his links in India. He put "feelers" out and "clearly knew who he was selling the missiles to," the source added, making the point that Lakhani would not have been involved in a "blind deal".

Lakhani was one of three people arrested following an operation by the FBI, UK and Russian intelligence services. The evidence against him were his own words, which were captured on video tape by the FBI, which were played and replayed to the jury. The FBI taped 150 of Lakhani's conversations. The tapes showed Lakhani saying that Osama Bin Laden did a "good thing" and "straightened them all out".

Lakhani said "the Americans are bastards" and suggested the country would be shaken if 15 airliners were shot down. The Federal Court prosecutor stated: "There is no question that Lakhani was sympathetic to the beliefs of the terrorists who were trying to damage our country. He, on many occasions in recorded conversations, referred to Americans as bastards and Osama Bin Laden as a hero." Speaking from jail, he admitted: "Yes, I said those terrible things. But I didn't mean them. I'm a devout Hindu and don't believe in violence."

Lakhani - originally from Gujarat in India - was a lawyer when he arrived in London in September 1958. By the late 60s, he owned his own garment business. In 1977, Lakhani claimed to earn £150,000 a year. He drove a Rolls-Royce and met Prince Charles.

In a desperate attempt to try and save his skin Lakhani was described in court by his own defence as an “<banned word filter activated>” and a “clown” incapable of selling illegal arms. Lakhani's lawyer described his client as a "joke" who "couldn't finish a deal if his life depended on it".

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: "One of the biggest untold stories is that India was in league with the Saddam regime for years in terms of scientific cooperation. Now a prominent Indian businessman has been caught red-handed and convicted of being involved in the most serious terrorist activities against the United States. We urge Sikhs in the US to shout from the roofs about today's conviction in the US of Lakhani. He led a group of Indians, who were selling 50 shoulder-held Russian surface-to-air missiles - the Igla - to be used against US commercial airliners and kill thousands of innocent American civilians on the second anniversary of 9/11. The Igla missile, which has a 4km range and an infrared capability is a deadly weapon. It is an advanced surface-to-air missile, which could have had devastating potential in the hands of terrorists."

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

For further information visit www.sikhfederation.com

[sikhlionz]

let's hope the USA wakes up and arrests those involved in funding the RSS, Bajrang Dal and other Sangh organisations in India with providing funding and in some cases arms to support atrocities on Sikhs in Punjab, Muslims in Gujarat, Christians, Dalits and other minorities

Waheguroooo

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

See picture of Lakhani - more to follow!

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

that is the first time I have seen the word Hindu terrorist. I bet India is working on damage control at the moment, trying to put a sikh twist to all of this.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

that is the first time I have seen the word Hindu terrorist.  I bet India is working on damage control at the moment, trying to put a sikh twist to all of this.

96337[/snapback]

He was definitely a HINDU terrorist and probably with links to the Indian Intelligence.

Below is an article from India at the time of Lakhani's arrest (August 2003) to show the sensitivity of the Gujarati community in London and the defensive attitude of the Indian Intelligence.

Why are they silent now?

Where are the headlines, press reports, radio interviews questioning the prominent Hindu leaders from the UK?

Perhaps the "ethnic" media in the UK is more biased than we would like to admit!

Indian intelligence believes Lakhani is no terrorist

Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi | August 14, 2003 01:06 IST

Last Updated: August 14, 2003 01:36 IST

Hemant Lakhani, the suspected arms dealer who was arrested yesterday in Newark, New Jersey, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was not a terrorist, according to a senior serving Indian intelligence officer.

"Lakhani was not a terrorist," the officer, speaking anonymously, told rediff.com "Maybe he was doing something he should not have been doing, but you can't call him a terrorist."

The officer said Lakhani, who was born on July 2, 1935, has been a British citizen for 20 years. He was living in Hendon, north London. One of his office assistants, who hails from Gujarat, was also interrogated today in London, he claimed.

Lakhani owned a company called Multitrade (London), which was dissolved in January 2000. His wife Kusum, born on March 20, 1937, is a director in Reliance Clothing (a local firm unconnected to the Indian giant). Kusum Lakhani was with her husband when he was arrested.

As photographs of the couple have not yet been released, community leaders in London are keeping their fingers crossed. But C B Patel, the London-based publisher of two ethnic weeklies, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, told rediff.com on telephone that the Gujarati community is in a state of shock.

"The couple by the same name whom we know are quite well known in the Gujarati community," Patel said. "Hemant Lakhani is known as Babubhai and exactly resembles the sketch shown by CNN. I know him. He is a textile merchant who migrated to England from Ghatkopar, Mumbai."

Patel said Babubhai was a confident, low-profile person with a sense of humour, while Kusum was polite and highly social. The late Lady Diana had inaugurated a building of Sangam, a local women's organisation, when Kusum Lakhani headed it.

Calls to the Lakhani home now are going unanswered, Patel said.

The Asian community in London finds it hard to believe that one of its members could be involved in an activity like arms smuggling. They all believed Lakhani had interests in the diamond and jewellery trade. But the FBI has alleged that he arrived in the United States to close the deal on a Russian SA-18 ILA missile capable of bringing down commercial airliners.

Asked if the Indian Intelligence agencies were kept informed of the sting operation, the officer quoted earlier said, "Lakhani was not an Indian, he was a British citizen of Indian origin."

B Raman, India's foremost counter-terrorism expert and a former officer of the Research and Analysis Wing, told rediff.com, "This is sting operation against a suspected arms smuggler. The intelligence officer posed as a terrorist. They have not identified any terrorist organisation or terrorists. So all the hype around the arrest is not justified."

[`KuMi´]

http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/apr/29nri.htm

Indian intelligence believes Lakhani is no terrorist-- http://in.rediff.com/news/2003/aug/13lakh.htm

Bull crap, Hindus deserve to feel painnnnnnnnnnnn

[gupt_paapi]

"Yes, I said those terrible things. But I didn't mean them. I'm a devout Hindu and don't believe in violence."

aww bechara devote hindu. Well did u no devote hindus dont cut hair as ewll lyk bhramins used 2 but u no..even bhramins dont do dat nomore

Yeh typical of indian inteligence... so typical y dusnt sum1 assasinate em?

[kurtas]

>>prominent Indian businessman

When he was caught the British press descirbed him as a failed businessman. All of a sudden Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) is promoting him to the status of prominent Indian businessman.

He was just an arms dealer like what Maggie Thatchers son was during the 1980s. He was trying to make a quick buck and now people reckon he was a topshot hindu terrorist.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

>>prominent Indian businessman

When he was caught the British press descirbed him as a failed businessman. All of a sudden  Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) is promoting him to the status of prominent Indian businessman.

He was just an arms dealer like what Maggie Thatchers son was during the 1980s. He was trying to make a quick buck and now people reckon he was a topshot hindu terrorist.

96483[/snapback]

Why do you wish to "downplay" this story?

He was not just an arms dealer - he was a HINDU arms dealer.

Imagine the stories and coverage if he was a SIKH!

Also think about the impact around the world if he had provided the capability to knock down 15 US planes on the 2nd anniversary of 9/11.

The follwing made Lakhani "prominent"

These were mentioned in the original article:

In 1977, Lakhani claimed to earn £150,000 a year. He drove a Rolls-Royce and met Prince Charles

British intelligence described Lakhani as a "known arms dealer"

These were mentioned in the earlier (Indian press article)

"The couple . . . are quite well known in the Gujarati community," Patel said.

"Hemant Lakhani is known as Babubhai."

"The late Lady Diana had inaugurated a building of Sangam, a local women's organisation" that was headed by his wife.

It was Lakhani who said:

"I'm a devout Hindu and don't believe in violence."

AND surely you can not think the INDIAN connection and the reaction of the Indian Intelligence is irrelevant.

[kurtas]

>>prominent Indian businessman

When he was caught the British press descirbed him as a failed businessman. All of a sudden  Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) is promoting him to the status of prominent Indian businessman.

He was just an arms dealer like what Maggie Thatchers son was during the 1980s. He was trying to make a quick buck and now people reckon he was a topshot hindu terrorist.

96483[/snapback]

Why do you wish to "downplay" this story?

He was not just an arms dealer - he was a HINDU arms dealer.

Imagine the stories and coverage if he was a SIKH!

Also think about the impact around the world if he had provided the capability to knock down 15 US planes on the 2nd anniversary of 9/11.

The follwing made Lakhani "prominent"

These were mentioned in the original article:

In 1977, Lakhani claimed to earn £150,000 a year. He drove a Rolls-Royce and met Prince Charles

British intelligence described Lakhani as a "known arms dealer"

These were mentioned in the earlier (Indian press article)

"The couple . . . are quite well known in the Gujarati community," Patel said.

"Hemant Lakhani is known as Babubhai."

"The late Lady Diana had inaugurated a building of Sangam, a local women's organisation" that was headed by his wife.

It was Lakhani who said:

"I'm a devout Hindu and don't believe in violence."

AND surely you can not think the INDIAN connection and the reaction of the Indian Intelligence is irrelevant.

96521[/snapback]

Big wow if he was a Hindu and at the same time an arms dealer. I think we have all seen before how we get upset when the press uses the religion of "sehajdhari" Sikhs as headlines so why are the Sikh Fed doing the same. They have no reason to complain now the next time a mona is accused (like that murder Kohli who killed a girl in Southampton) and the press use Sikh in the headlines.

Lets analyse the rest of your post. Of cause you are going to profess you are a devout xyz and dont beleive in violence when you are caught.

If you want to get into cloud cuckoo land conspiracy theories and pretend this guy was a prominent indian business man then do so. Had you heard about him before he was caught ? No so he was not prominent. Prominent Indian business men are likes of Hindujas (who also get involved in arms dealing), Lakshi Mittal etc etc.