Tahawwur Rana Extradition: The 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana will be extradited to India on Wednesday, April 9. This comes after the United States Supreme Court rejected the extradition stay request of the Mumbai attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana on April 7. The decision followed high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in February. National Security Advisor of India (NSA) Ajit Doval is personally monitoring the extradition of Rana, stated reports. He is overseeing the procedure, formalities and determining which jail he (Rana) will be kept once he is brought to India.
Which Jail Will Hold The 26/11 Mastermind?
If sources are to be believed, there is a high possibility that Tahawwur Rana can be extradited to India today itself. In such a situation, a big question that arises is where he will be kept. There are two options for this: first is Tihar Jail in Delhi and second is Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. Reportedly, preparations have been made at both these places. However, the final decision is yet to be taken. NSA Ajit Doval is keeping a close eye on all this. He is in talk with the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, sources stated.
Custodial Interrogation By NIA, IB And Mumbai Police
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh’s former Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh hailed the approval Rana’s stay request. Singh stated that only a few formalities like paperwork and diplomatic procedures, remain before his return.
“This decision is significant and follows high-level discussions between Prime Minister Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. Now, only a few formalities like paperwork and diplomatic procedures, remain before this return,” Singh told ANI.
Rana’s custodial interrogation would be conducted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) who is fully prepared for it. Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Mumbai Police will also sit for questioning.
Singh further stated that since Rana was linked with Lashkar-e-Taiba, his interrogation would be helpful in discovering deeper terror networks.
“The NIA is fully prepared and once he is brought back, custodial interrogation will be conducted by multiple agencies including the NIA, IB, Mumbai Police… Rana’s links to Lashkar-e-Taiba and his association with David Coleman Headley – who remains in a U.S. jail – make him a key figure in uncovering deeper terror networks… Once in India, his interrogation will reveal crucial information about sleeper cells, support networks and possibly even names from the Mumbai film industry who assisted Headley during his recce,” added Singh.
Tahawwur Rana To Face Justice
Earlier on March 7, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is working closely with the United States to complete the necessary formalities for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana. On February, United States President Donald Trump had announced the extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India and stated that he will face justice.
Trump said, “I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters (Tahawwur Rana) and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India. He is going back to India to face justice,” Trump said.
Who Is Tahawwur Rana?
Pakistani-origin businessman and physician Tahawwur Hussain Rana was convicted for his role in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. Rana’s co-conspirators included David Headley, who pleaded guilty and cooperated against Rana. He was born in 1961 in Pakistan. He moved to Canada after gaining citizenship and became an immigration service businessman. He completed his education from the Cadet College Hasan Abdal, a military residential college in Pakistan. Rana served as a captain general duty practitioner in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps. Rana was charged and arrested on 18 October 2009 for plotting attacks on the offices of Jyllands-Posten. Rana was sentenced to 14 years in prison in January 2013.
Also Read: 26/11 Mastermind Tahawwur Rana To Be Extradited To India Today; NIA Gears Up To Take Custody
