A painting made by students of Gurukul Art School on the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana from USA to India
Credit: PTI Photo
The extradition of Tahawwur Rana – accused in the Mumbai terror attack – from the US to India marks an important turn in India’s war against terrorism. Raprovenna who was brought to Delhi on Thursday has to face the legal process in India for his role in terrorist activities, mainly the 2008 attack. He has been produced before an NIA (National Investigation Agency) court in Delhi which will conduct the trial. His landing in India comes two months after US President Donald Trump, during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, announced the US administration’s decision to send the “very evil” Rana “to face justice in India”. The decision came after a long process involving diplomatic, legal, and intelligence efforts that started in 2009. These efforts saw delays caused on various counts – the US Supreme Court’s rejection of all objections and appeals by Rana this year, finally, cleared the way for his extradition.
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national who had served in the Pakistan army as a doctor, owned an immigration consultancy firm in Chicago, which was allegedly used by one of the masterminds of the terror operation, David Headley, for travels to India ahead of the attack. Headley became an approver and disclosed Rana’s role in the attack which killed 166 people during November 26-29, 2008. The scene is now set for interrogation by India’s investigative agencies to extract details about Rana’s role, and the role of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and non-state actors in the attack. Rana’s links with the internationally banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) have been proved and he has served jail in the US on that count. The Mumbai attack was carried out by 10 terrorists associated with the LeT. All of them, except Ajmal Kasab, were killed in the operation. Kasab was tried and executed in 2012 and his interrogation revealed much information about the conspiracy and its execution. Rana’s interrogation will help the agencies join the dots.
Pakistan has denied any link with Rana. Standard denials cannot be taken at face value because conspiracies and undercover operations always leave room for such denials. Pakistan’s involvement in the Mumbai attack and other acts of terror in India has been proved
and there is no need for further evidence or confirmation from Rana. What is important is that the extradition
has presented an opportunity to bring him before
the law, mete out justice, and bring closure to the case which has also shown how complex and protracted extradition processes can get, even in serious cases of terrorist action.