First Look At 26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana After US Extradition—Why Is He In A Prison Uniform?

After years of legal and diplomatic efforts, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a major suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was extradited to India from the United States on Thursday. As he landed in Delhi under strict security, the first image of Rana appeared, showing him in a prison uniform.

A special aircraft was used to transport the 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani descent to India. The ongoing investigation into the 26/11 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 166 people, has made significant progress with his extradition. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken Rana into custody and will question him about his alleged involvement in organizing and enabling the fatal attack.

According to the NIA, Rana was arrested as soon as he landed. He has been officially charged under a number of sections of the Indian Penal Code, including sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the country), and 302 (murder). It is anticipated that his interrogation will uncover important details regarding the role of Pakistani state actors and further reveal the network responsible for the coordinated terror attacks.

The extradition of Rana brings an end to a protracted legal battle in the United States that involved numerous court appeals. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his last attempt to stop the extradition, paving the way for India to prosecute him.

Ten Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists carried out the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which targeted several important sites in Mumbai, including the Chabad House, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the CST railway station, and Leopold Café. The country was severely damaged during the nearly 60-hour siege.

Rana's close associate and one of the main conspirators, David Headley, had previously spied on the targets. In 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the lone attacker apprehended alive, was put to death. Now that Rana is in India, officials are hoping to learn more about the plot and the people responsible for one of the deadliest terror attacks in the nation's history.