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Mumbai 26/11: The Importance Of Extraditing Tahawwur Rana

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In a major victory for India, a US court has said that Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana who is wanted for his role in the Mumbai 26/11 blast can be extradited to India.

Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of US District Court in Central District of Los Angeles in an order dated May 16 said that, based on the foregoing, the court concludes that Rana (62) can be extradited for the offences for which extradition has been requested and on which the United States is proceeding.

Tahawwur Rana

The probe into the attack is being carried out by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The NIA had visited the US a couple of times seeking the extradition of Rana.

During a much earlier visit, the NIA had also interrogated David Headley who was helped by Rana to visit India and survey targets for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba to attack.

Rana had been arrested in the US, following a request by India. NIA officials said that it is ready to initiate proceedings to bring Rana to India through diplomatic channels.

Officials tell OneIndia that they would now start working the diplomatic channels to ensure that Rana is brought down to India. Getting him to India and interrogating him would be important as the larger picture would be known then. The probe in India had found that Rana had made the travel arrangements for Headley who had visited India several times. Headley is also learnt to have been in touch with Rana during all his visits.

US Court Allows Extradition Of 26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana To IndiaUS Court Allows Extradition Of 26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana To India

The visits by Headley had gone undetected and the agencies are still trying to ascertain how he had visited India and managed to survey so many targets. The official cited above also said that Headley had made more than one visit to India. During these visits, he had visited Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, the official also said.

During the proceedings, the prosecutors argued that Rana was well aware of Headley's involvement in the attack. He had assisted Headley and afforded him cover for his activities. He was also supporting the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and its associates, it was also argued.

Rana also knew of Healy's meetings, what was discussed, and the planning of the attacks, including some of the targets, the court was told.

The US government further said that Rana was part of the conspiracy and there is probable cause that he committed the substantive crime of commissioning an act of terror.

The extradition was however vehemently opposed by Rana's counsel.

The Mumbai 26/11 attack was one of the most horrific terror strikes that India has witnessed. Ten terrorists had laid siege to the city and kept many hostage in various hotels before killing 166. The siege that took place in 2008 lasted nearly 60 hours before the National Security Guards gunned down the terrorists. The lone surviving terrorist, Ajmal Kasab gave out the details of the attack and the planning. He was held guilty and subsequently hanged a few years later at a jail in Pune.

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