Tahawwur Rana, key accused in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, extradited from US to India after long legal battle

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, has been extradited from the US to India. This is being considered a major diplomatic and judicial victory for India. Rana will be brought to India by this afternoon, after which he will be kept in the high-security ward of Tihar Jail under tight security.

Former NIA chief Yogesh Chandra Modi called it a "big achievement" and said that this process was possible due to the political will of India and the US. He said that the NIA had presented strong evidence in the US courts and the Indian team had visited the US several times.

Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, is close to US terrorist David Coleman Headley. Headley was one of the main conspirators of the Mumbai terror attack on 26 November 2008, in which a total of 166 people, including six Americans, lost their lives.

In this case, the central government has appointed senior lawyer Advocate Narendra Mann as Special Public Prosecutor. He has been entrusted with the responsibility of representing the case against Rana and Headley in Delhi-based special courts and appellate courts on behalf of the NIA. His appointment will be valid for three years or till the completion of the trial.

It is worth noting that Rana adopted many legal tactics in the US to avoid extradition. He had filed petitions citing illness and threat to life in India. He even filed a habeas corpus petition in the US Supreme Court, which was rejected by Justice Elena Kagan.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised this move and said, "Rana's extradition is a big success of the Modi government. We are committed to bringing to justice those who attack India's honor, land and people."

After this extradition, it is expected that important clues may come out regarding the role of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and other masters in the interrogation of Rana. In India, Tahawwur Rana will now be interrogated intensively under the supervision of NIA, Delhi Police and the Central Government so that all aspects related to the conspiracy of the 26/11 attack can be exposed.