Mumbai terror attacks investigation has reached a critical point as a key alleged co-conspirator, extradited from the United States, landed in India after 15 years. This development marks a significant milestone in one of the most high-profile terror cases in Indian history.
CNN
Seventeen years after India was rocked by one of the biggest catastrophes to ever strike its territory, the United States has extradited a man who is suspected of aiding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
According to two police officers familiar with Tahawwur Hussain Rana’s travels, the Canadian national of Pakistani descent arrived in New Delhi on Thursday. After years of legal fighting, the US approved his extradition, and he will now stand prosecution in India.
India accuses Rana of conspiring in the Mumbai terror attacks, one of the country’s deadliest assaults, where 10 Pakistani men linked to the terror group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba killed over 160 people during a four-day rampage across Mumbai that began on November 26, 2008.
That day, which is frequently referred to as India’s 9/11, is deeply ingrained in the country’s memories.
As part of the Mumbai terror attacks, the assailants traveled by boat from Karachi, Pakistan, hijacking an Indian fishing trawler and killing its five crew members en route. Upon reaching Mumbai, they docked near the iconic Gateway of India and split into at least three groups to execute the coordinated assaults, according to police.
During the Mumbai terror attacks, the assailants used automatic weapons and grenades to strike multiple high-profile locations, including the city’s largest train terminal, the luxury Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident hotels, the popular Leopold Café, a Jewish community center, and a hospital.
After a cat-and-mouse pursuit across the city, police murdered nine of the ten attackers. In 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the only gunman still alive, was put to death.
Mumbai Terror Attacks: 64-Year-Old Rana Faces Execution if Found Guilty of Plotting Deadly Siege
New Delhi accuses Rana, who was in the US at the time, of plotting with the terrorists and providing them with the knowledge they needed to execute their attack. Similar charges were previously refuted by him in a U.S. court.
Rana is accused of a number of offenses by India’s government investigating agency, including forgery, murder, and war-wage attempt. The 64-year-old might be executed if proven guilty.
Rana was deported to India after he had used up all legal options to remain in the United States, the nation’s National Investigation Agency stated in a statement on Thursday.
Although Rana was found guilty of two other offenses, including giving Lashkar-e-Tayyiba material support, a US court cleared him of conspiracy to supply material to support the Mumbai attacks in 2011.
He was serving a 14-year sentence in a Los Angeles jail on related charges when his extradition in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks was approved earlier this week.
Although it did not address any additional inquiries regarding the matter, India’s foreign ministry stated on Wednesday that the US Supreme Court had denied Rana’s request to have his extradition stayed.
Conclusion:
The extradition of Tahawwur Rana marks a significant development in the long-standing pursuit of justice for the Mumbai terror attacks. As India prepares to prosecute the 64-year-old for his alleged role in aiding the attackers, the case serves as a reminder of the devastating events of November 2008 and the global cooperation required to combat terrorism. If convicted, Rana faces severe penalties, including the possibility of capital punishment. The upcoming legal proceedings are expected to be closely watched both nationally and internationally, as they unfold a critical chapter in India’s fight against cross-border terrorism.
This case reinforces India’s unwavering commitment to ensuring accountability for the Mumbai terror attacks, no matter how long justice takes.
