New Delhi: Tahawwur Rana, one of the masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is expected to arrive in India on Thursday, according to multiple reports. He has been extradited from the United States after years of diplomatic and legal efforts. The US Supreme Court refused to quash his plea against the extradition last week.
According to police reports, Rana had arranged the travel and reconnaissance operations for David Coleman Headley, who scouted targets in Mumbai during his multiple travels in the country. Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian citizen, is a former associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Headley, a Pakistani-US citizen, had testified against Rana.
Ajit Doval overseeing the operation
The extradition follows a sustained push by the Union government since 2019. US President Donald Trump had earlier confirmed his approval for the extradition, calling it a step towards justice.
A specialised team, including experts in international law and intelligence, coordinated with US authorities to ensure Rana’s secure handover. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is overseeing the operation. According to a Times of India report, two jails in Delhi and Mumbai have been asked to make special arrangements in line with US judiciary recommendations about extradited subjects.
Rana will remain in the custody of NIA
Initially, Rana will remain in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to court documents, Rana had personally visited Mumbai in November 2008 and departed just days before the attacks. He coordinated closely with ISI’s Major Iqbal in planning the attacks.
To date, Ajmal Kasab remains the only 26/11 attacker tried and convicted. The terror attack in Mumbai remains one of the deadliest terror strikes in India. Around 166 people, including foreign nationals, were killed in the attacks while hundreds others suffered injuries.
