Tahawwur Rana, the Canadian of Pakistani origin who was charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited to India. The US Department of Justice described this action as a “critical step toward seeking justice” for the six Americans and other victims who were killed during the 26/11 attacks.
Rana, 64, arrived in Delhi on Thursday night. Officials brought him from the United States on a special plane. He is accused of assisting his childhood friend, David Coleman Headley, in orchestrating the attacks for the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
What Tahawwur Rana Said After 26/11
Shortly after the attacks, Tahawwur Rana allegedly told Headley that the Indians “deserved it.” In a phone conversation, he even praised the nine LeT terrorists who died, saying they should receive Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military honor.
How Rana Allegedly Helped Plot 26/11
Rana was once a medic in Pakistan’s military. He later migrated to Canada and then to the US. There, he established a number of businesses in Chicago. One of them was an immigration consultancy. Officials think that he used this business to facilitate Headley’s entry into India and reconnoiter Mumbai.
To facilitate Headley, Tahawwur Rana opened a branch of his company in Mumbai. He named Headley as its manager—despite Headley lacking experience in immigration services. Rana also assisted in filing fake visa applications, enabling Headley to travel freely.
Close Ties with Headley and LeT
In two years, Rana and Headley met several times in Chicago. On these occasions, Headley shared details of his surveillance work in Mumbai. He also updated Rana regarding LeT’s feedback and future plans.
Headley is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for terrorism charges under the Mumbai attack and planned attack on a Danish newspaper.
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