NIA arrests Mumbai terror attacks accused after extradition from US

New Delhi, Apr 10: The National Investigation Agency on Thursday said it has “successfully secured the extradition” of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and has arrested him.
In a statement, NIA spokesman said that Rana was arrested formally immediately after his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, following his successful extradition from the United States.
“NIA secured Rana’s extradition following years of sustained and concerted efforts, and after the terror mastermind’s last-ditch efforts to get a stay on his extradition from the US failed,” the statement added.
It said that Rana was escorted to New Delhi by teams of NSG and NIA, comprising senior officials, on a special plane from Los Angeles, US. The NIA investigation team at the airport arrested Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin living primarily in Chicago (US), soon after he emerged from the airplane, after completing all the necessary legal formalities.
“With the coordinated efforts of India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, along with the relevant authorities in the United States, NIA has worked closely with other Indian intelligence agencies through the entire extradition process, which marked a major step in India’s efforts to bring individuals involved in terrorism to justice, irrespective of which part of the world they had fled to,” the statement added.
“Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated by NIA under the India-US Extradition Treaty. The extradition finally came through after Rana’s various litigations and appeals, including an emergency application before the U.S. Supreme Court, were rejected with the active assistance of U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in New Delhi, and U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Legal Adviser for Law Enforcement. The diligent and persistent efforts of India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs culminated in securing the surrender warrant for the fugitive, leading to his eventual extradition,” the statement said.
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 statement said.
Meanwhile, International Council of Jurists (ICJ) President, Senior Advocate Dr Adish C Aggarwal on Thursday welcomed the decision of Donald Trump administration to extradite 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana to India.
Aggarwal while talking to the reporters in Srinagar, according to KNO said, “Trump government took special interest and allowed Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India. Donald Trump himself making a statement on this as soon as his government came into power shows that he is against terrorism.”
Asked would this move pave the way for extradition of the Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Sayed also, Agarwal said, “Everything will happen. Our forces are doing a good job. I assure you that whether economic offender or terrorist offender, everyone will have to come here.”
Pertinently, soon after taking over as the President of United States for second time, Donald Trump in February this year had confirmed 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India and said that he was pleased to announce that Rana is “going back to India to face justice”.
During the joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after their bilateral meeting, Trump had 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,” he had said. (KNO)