Tahawwur Rana will be held in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for the initial weeks of interrogation and investigation.
Rana, accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited from the United States and is expected to arrive in India early tomorrow (April 10, 2025). He is accompanied by a special team of intelligence and investigative officials.
In line with recommendations from a US court, discreet high-security arrangements have been put in place at two jails in Delhi and Mumbai. Top government sources have informed that upon arrival, Rana will be held in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for the initial weeks of interrogation and investigation.
The extradition operation is being closely overseen by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, alongside senior officials from the NIA and the Ministry of Home Affairs, sources said.
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, is known to have been an active operative of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
He played a pivotal role in facilitating travel documents for David Coleman Headley (alias Dawood Gilani), a Pakistani-American who conducted reconnaissance of key targets in Mumbai.
These locations were later attacked by LeT terrorists with logistical and strategic backing from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.
Rana had reportedly travelled to Mumbai himself between November 11 and 21, 2008, via Dubai. During his stay at Hotel Renaissance in Powai, he is believed to have reviewed logistical preparations for the attacks.
The coordinated strikes took place just five days later, on November 26, resulting in the deaths of over 170 people.
So far, only one LeT terrorist convicted for the deadly attack is Ajmal Kasab, who was captured alive by officials during the siege.
Recently, the US Supreme Court denied the 64-year-old Tahawwur Rana's application seeking a stay on his extradition to India.
BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi have flayed the Congress party for giving a clean chit to Pakistan for orchestrating the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and has even supported Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist convicted and later sentenced to death.
"The statement of a Maharashtra Congress leader about the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks is very dangerous. These Congress leaders are now taking the side of the terrorist, Kasab. During the Congress rule, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and those close to the Congress family have called Kasab innocent," PM Modi said in May 2024 while campaigning at Maharashtra's Ahmednagar.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly stoked controversy over his statement on the 26/11 attack.
Even lately a fiery exchange between Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh unfolded in Rajya Sabha on the issue.
Amit Shah challenged Digvijaya Singh to deny his earlier comments that linked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Shah said, "If he didn’t say RSS was involved in 26/11, let him stand up, turn on the mic, and clarify now." This challenge arose from Singh’s attending in the 2010 release of the book "26/11 RSS Ki Saazish?" (26/11: An RSS Conspiracy?), written by Aziz Burney, which suggested RSS's role in the attacks.
Singh faced criticism due to his connection to the book and his comments at the release event.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment