New Delhi Mumbai 26/11 terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana has been extradited to India on a special flight from California on Thursday.
The 64-year-old Pakistan-born Canadian national and a close associate of David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, was extradited from the United States to face trial in India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that claimed around 170 lives and several others were injured.
A team of six officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with senior officials from the National Security Guard (NSG), accompanied Rana on a special aircraft that landed at Palam Air Force Base, New Delhi, on Thursday evening. Draped in a U.S. prison uniform, Tahawwur Rana was flown directly from Los Angeles detention unchanged and unprocessed, signaling a swift and no-frills handover to Indian authorities under the surrender warrant.
After landing in New Delhi, Rana was formally arrested, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced. In a statement late evening, the NIA said Rana was "formally arrested immediately after his arrival at Delhi airport."
He was produced before the court Thursday in a closed-door hearing. In the late-night hearing, a Special NIA Judge granted the NIA 18 days of remand.
He faces multiple serious charges under Indian law including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Government of India, murder, forgery, and violations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
U.S. statement
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a statement on Thursday after 26/11 terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana was extradited to India from the U.S.
It read, “The United States on Wednesday extradited convicted terrorist Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Rana’s extradition is a critical step toward seeking justice for the six Americans and scores of other victims who were killed in the heinous attacks... On April 9, the U.S. Marshals Service executed the Secretary’s surrender warrant by surrendering Rana to Indian authorities for transportation to India. Rana’s extradition is now complete...”
(With Amit Deshmukh)
