Rana’s extradition, a major success

The United State’s Supreme Court’s rejection of plea against extradition to India by 26/11 Mumbai Terrorist Attack accused Tahawwur Rana finally clears the way for his extradition to India for prosecution. The attack which resulted in death of around 170 civilians including foreign tourists, was plotted and executed by the Pakistani terrorist organization Lashkar e Toiba (LeT). It had paralysed normal life in India’s financial capital for two complete days.

Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin had worked as a doctor with Pakistani Army and is alleged to have provided material help to the LeT to carry out the operations in Mumbai. He was facing the charges for being co-conspirator for the attack working behind David Coleman Headley, the main conspirator who had done the recce of spots that were targeted for attack on 26th November 2008. Headley had used an immigration agency as a camouflage for the sinister plot while making multiple visits to India during 2006-07.It has been a protracted legal battle for India’s diplomatic corps to secure the custody of Rana who had been waging legal battles through several lower courts to evade extradition.

The US Supreme court’s verdict on January 21, soon after President Trump’s installation, marks the most important milestone, crossed so far as it signals Rana exhausting all the options to avoid extradition. There is no authority to further review the decision.Upon arrival in India, fresh chargesheet would be filed against Rana who is suspected to be working for the Pakistani deep state.

It will allow the Indian agencies to uncover more layers of how the ISI operatives gained access inside India. It is also likely to nail one more accused, Sayed Zabiuddin, who has been detained since then. Case against him has been hamstrung due to absence of critical input which Rana is expected to provide. Securing Rana’s custody is a major success in the legal sphere for India’s diplomatic establishment.