Amit Shah Celebrates Extradition of 26/11 Terror Accused Tahawwur Rana
A Major Diplomatic Win for India
New Delhi: On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as a significant achievement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.
Rana is anticipated to arrive in India shortly, following the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of his appeal against extradition.
During the 'News18 Rising Bharat Summit', Shah remarked, "The extradition of Tahawwur Rana showcases the effectiveness of Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic efforts."
He emphasized that the Modi administration is committed to ensuring justice for those who threaten India's integrity and safety.
"He will be brought back to face trial and receive appropriate punishment. This is a notable success for the Modi government," Shah added.
In a veiled reference to the Congress party, Shah criticized the previous administration for failing to bring Rana to justice after the 2008 attacks.
Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani descent, is implicated in the Mumbai attacks that resulted in 166 fatalities.
Having exhausted all legal avenues in the U.S., he is expected to be returned to India imminently.
A multi-agency team from the Indian government is currently in the U.S. to facilitate his return for trial related to the 26/11 attacks.
Upon arrival in Delhi, Rana will initially be held by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to complete the necessary legal procedures, according to sources.
Previously, he was detained at a metropolitan facility in Los Angeles.
Rana is linked to David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 26/11 attacks.
The FBI apprehended Rana in Chicago in October 2009, a year after the attacks, for his involvement in a foiled plot to attack a newspaper in Copenhagen and for providing support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
He was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 14 years in prison, although he was acquitted of conspiracy charges related to the Mumbai attacks.
His final attempt to prevent extradition was thwarted when the U.S. Supreme Court denied his application, bringing him closer to facing Indian authorities.