To support their request for continued police custody of Tahawwur Rana anti-terror authorities submitted evidence.
New Delhi: In the latest development in the Tahawwur Rana extradition case, a Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court sent the key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to 18 days of custody on Friday. Rana arrived in India on Thursday after his extradition by the United States, ending a 16-year-long wait to prosecute the conspirator of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.
To support their request for continued police custody of Tahawwur Rana, a suspect in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, anti-terror authorities submitted evidence, such as emails, to the court. They argued that further interrogation is necessary to fully investigate the attack and Rana’s involvement.
NIA further states that, as part of the criminal conspiracy, accused No. 1, David Coleman Headley, had discussed the entire operation with Tahawwur Rana before his visit to India. Anticipating potential challenges, Headley sent an email to Rana detailing his belongings and assets. He also informed Rana about the involvement of Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Thursday that it has successfully secured the extradition of Rana, the mastermind of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice.
According to the NIA, Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty for his extradition. The extradition finally came through after Rana exhausted all legal avenues to stay the move.
“Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley @ Daood Gilani, and operatives of designated terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI) along with other Pakistan-based co-conspirators, to carry out the devastating terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. A total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured in the deadly attacks. Both LeT and HUJI have been declared as terrorist organisations by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967,” the NIA said.
(with ANI inputs)
