The National Investigation Agency is keeping its fingers crossed on laying hands on Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 terror attacks, before he completes his jail sentence in the US. A Pakistani-Canadian citizen, Rana was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to 14-years imprisonment in 2013 by a US federal court for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, which executed the Mumbai attacks.
If the extradition comes through, it will be a feather in the cap of the BJP government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls as he will be the first key conspirator of the Mumbai attacks to be extradited to India.
For investigators, Rana’s extradition can pave the way for uncovering more details about the conspiracy and more evidence of Pakistan’s role in the terror attacks. Other than the successful execution of Ajmal Kasab, the NIA has not been able to lay hands on the key conspirators hiding in Pakistan like Lashkar patron Hafiz Saeed, ‘project manager’ of the attack Sajid Mir and Lashkar commander Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi.
Come 2022, NIA officials may travel to Chicago to pursue his extradition especially after US authorities said they are in favour of handing him over to New Delhi. The authorities conveyed that he can be sent to India after he completes his jail term, but Rana’s counsel has appealed against his extradition, saying he cannot be sent out of the US before his jail term is completed. Once the sentence is over, Rana may plead to return to Canada. In that case, New Delhi may have to pursue the matter afresh with Canadian authorities.
To avoid further delays and speed up the process of bringing him to India, attempts are being made to fast-track his extradition as the time of his sentence is coming to an end. Various documents have been prepared by the NIA and handed over to their counterparts documenting his role in planning the terror attacks by helping LeT operative David Coleman Headley. Rana helped Headley open an immigration firm in Mumbai as a cover to conduct reconnaissance of possible targets that were attacked on November 26, 2008.
According to NIA officials, Rana is a bigger threat and conspirator than Headley and unlike Headley, who entered a plea bargain with the US authorities to escape extradition and heavy punishment, Rana enjoys no such immunity. But until the legal tangles are resolved, it will be an uphill battle for the NIA.
Meanwhile, there is no let-up in the activities of LeT, which is working under the garb of The Resistance Front in Kashmir. More than 150 terrorists, including Lashkar fighters, are waiting at launch pads across the LoC to infiltrate.
As per latest inputs, these launch pads are at Sonar, Athmuqan, Lipa, Forward Kahuta and Chirikot that are active along LoC.
With the situation stabilising in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, intelligence points towards foreign fighters in Afghanistan not only moving towards Kashmir via Pakistan but also being roped in by Pakistan-based terror groups to target the Indian hinterland.
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- 'No bilateral extradition treaty exists': Pakistan on India's request to extradite Hafiz Saeed
- 15th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai attacks: Modi says India crushing terrorism with all its courage
- Remembering 26/11 heroes: Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Hemant Karkare and other bravehearts
- US Court allows 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana time to petition against extradition to India
In 2008, it wasn’t Kashmir but Mumbai that was attacked after LeT terrorists came via sea, taking advantage of the gaps in the security systems, and wreaked havoc in the financial capital. Indian agencies are once again alert to the threats to towns and cities and are keeping a close watch on the security situation across the border.
