The special flight carrying Tahawwur Rana, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind, landed in Delhi today following his extradition from the US
GUWAHATI, April 10: The special flight carrying 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana has landed in Delhi while the process to formally arrest him has begun.
Pakistani-Canadian terrorist Tahawwur Rana, one of the main plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was brought to India after the US Supreme Court rejected his plea against his extradition to India.
He will now undergo a trial at a special NIA court in Delhi and is likely to be lodged at the Tihar jail.
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Tahawwur Hussain Rana is a Pakistan-born Canadian citizen, former military physician, and businessman, known for his involvement in international terrorism activities, notably the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Early Life and Career:
Birth and Education: Born on January 12, 1961, in Chichawatni, Punjab, Pakistan, Rana attended Cadet College Hasan Abdal, where he befriended David Coleman Headley (formerly Daood Gilani).
Military Service: He served as a captain general duty practitioner in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps before leaving the military.
Immigration to North America: In 1997, Rana immigrated to Canada with his wife, also a physician, and acquired Canadian citizenship in June 2001.
Involvement in Terrorism:
Business Ventures: Rana established ‘First World Immigration Services,’ an immigration consultancy with offices in Chicago, New York, and Toronto. This business was allegedly used as a cover for terrorist activities.
Association with David Headley: Rana’s close association with David Headley involved facilitating Headley’s reconnaissance missions in India by providing a business cover through his immigration firm.
Extradition to India:
Extradition Approval: After prolonged legal proceedings, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Rana’s appeal against extradition, and he was extradited to India to face charges related to the 26/11 attacks.
Rana’s involvement in Mumbai Terror Attacks:
1. Connection to David Headley:
i) Rana was a close associate of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American who played a key reconnaissance role in the attacks.
ii) Headley conducted surveillance of the sites targeted in Mumbai and passed on this intelligence to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the terror group behind the attacks.
iii) Rana was accused of helping Headley by allowing him to use his immigration business (First World Immigration Services) as a cover for Headley’s travels in India.
2. Support Role:
i) According to U.S. prosecutors and Headley’s own testimony, Rana helped facilitate Headley’s trips to India by providing a business cover story, which enabled Headley to present himself as a legitimate businessman rather than a terrorist operative.
ii) Rana also allegedly knew that Headley was working with LeT and had knowledge of some elements of the attack planning, although his defense argued that he was misled.
The Mumbai Terror Attacks
A group of 10 Pakistan-sponsored Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists carried out coordinated attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, targeting the Mumbai CST railway station, the Taj and Trident hotels and a Jewish centre, after sneaking into the country’s financial capital through the Arabian Sea.
The attacks, possibly the worst terrorist activity in the country, killed as many as 166 people while injuring and maiming 300 others.
Rana’s extradition, defence analysts say, marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to bring those responsible for the Mumbai attacks to justice.
