NEW DELHI: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the key conspirators in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was brought to India under a highly secretive and tightly coordinated operation following his extradition from the United States, as per reports. Behind the scenes involved months of diplomacy, courtroom battles in Washington, and a precision-led transfer designed to outwit any threat from Pakistan-based terror outfits.
The National Investigation Agency ( NIA ) led the efforts to bring the 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian national to justice. Rana had fought his extradition for over a decade but ran out of legal options after the US Supreme Court dismissed his final plea in April. With all legal obstacles cleared, a special Indian team flew to Los Angeles, accompanied by senior NIA officials and NSG commandos, to collect him.
Tahawwur Rana extradition - live updates
To ensure the utmost secrecy and to prevent any security breaches, the transit was executed with extreme caution. The aircraft was monitored in real-time by Indian and US intelligence personnel, as per news agency ANI. During the flight, one NIA officer reportedly held Rana's hand to ensure he didn’t attempt self-harm. The flight made a brief refuelling stop before landing in Delhi on Thursday afternoon.
'Police asked to surrender phones'
Upon arrival at Palam Air Base, Delhi Police’s security wing staff were asked to surrender their mobile phones to avoid leaks. Rana was discreetly moved out of the airport through an alternative gate in a non-transparent jail van. Later that evening, he was taken to Patiala house court in a high-security convoy, which included an armoured SWAT vehicle and an ambulance. Before the court proceedings, the premises were cleared of media and the public due to security concerns.
During the hearing, Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh granted the agency 18-day custody of Rana for interrogation. As Rana did not have legal representation, advocate Piyush Sachdeva was appointed for him by the Delhi Legal Services Authority. The NIA said that Rana’s interrogation was vital to uncovering the full scope of the conspiracy behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed and over 230 injured.
Rana is a close associate of David Coleman Headley , the American-Pakistani terrorist who carried out reconnaissance missions in Mumbai before the attack. The NIA revealed that emails exchanged between the two showed detailed planning and coordination. Headley reportedly informed Rana of the involvement of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.
The NIA has said that Rana will be held in a high-security cell at its CGO complex headquarters in Delhi while his interrogation continues.
Critical step toward seeking justice: US
The United States Department of Justice described the extradition of convicted terrorist Rana as “a critical step toward seeking justice for the six Americans and scores of other victims who were killed in the heinous attacks” of 26/11.
According to the US DoJ, Rana conspired with his childhood friend, David Coleman Headley, a key planner of the attacks, to facilitate surveillance of potential targets in Mumbai. Rana allegedly provided false documents and helped Headley obtain Indian visas under fraudulent pretences. After the attacks, Rana reportedly said the Indians “deserved it” and praised the nine Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who were killed, suggesting they be awarded Pakistan’s highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider.
"After the attacks were complete, Rana allegedly told Headley that the "Indians deserved it.” In an intercepted conversation with Headley, Rana allegedly commended the nine LeT terrorists who had been killed committing the attacks, saying that “[t]hey should be given Nishan-e-Haider”—Pakistan’s “highest award for gallantry in battle,” which is reserved for fallen soldiers," the statement read.
The National Investigation Agency ( NIA ) led the efforts to bring the 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian national to justice. Rana had fought his extradition for over a decade but ran out of legal options after the US Supreme Court dismissed his final plea in April. With all legal obstacles cleared, a special Indian team flew to Los Angeles, accompanied by senior NIA officials and NSG commandos, to collect him.
Tahawwur Rana extradition - live updates
To ensure the utmost secrecy and to prevent any security breaches, the transit was executed with extreme caution. The aircraft was monitored in real-time by Indian and US intelligence personnel, as per news agency ANI. During the flight, one NIA officer reportedly held Rana's hand to ensure he didn’t attempt self-harm. The flight made a brief refuelling stop before landing in Delhi on Thursday afternoon.
'Police asked to surrender phones'
Upon arrival at Palam Air Base, Delhi Police’s security wing staff were asked to surrender their mobile phones to avoid leaks. Rana was discreetly moved out of the airport through an alternative gate in a non-transparent jail van. Later that evening, he was taken to Patiala house court in a high-security convoy, which included an armoured SWAT vehicle and an ambulance. Before the court proceedings, the premises were cleared of media and the public due to security concerns.
During the hearing, Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh granted the agency 18-day custody of Rana for interrogation. As Rana did not have legal representation, advocate Piyush Sachdeva was appointed for him by the Delhi Legal Services Authority. The NIA said that Rana’s interrogation was vital to uncovering the full scope of the conspiracy behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed and over 230 injured.
Rana is a close associate of David Coleman Headley , the American-Pakistani terrorist who carried out reconnaissance missions in Mumbai before the attack. The NIA revealed that emails exchanged between the two showed detailed planning and coordination. Headley reportedly informed Rana of the involvement of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.
The NIA has said that Rana will be held in a high-security cell at its CGO complex headquarters in Delhi while his interrogation continues.
Critical step toward seeking justice: US
The United States Department of Justice described the extradition of convicted terrorist Rana as “a critical step toward seeking justice for the six Americans and scores of other victims who were killed in the heinous attacks” of 26/11.
According to the US DoJ, Rana conspired with his childhood friend, David Coleman Headley, a key planner of the attacks, to facilitate surveillance of potential targets in Mumbai. Rana allegedly provided false documents and helped Headley obtain Indian visas under fraudulent pretences. After the attacks, Rana reportedly said the Indians “deserved it” and praised the nine Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who were killed, suggesting they be awarded Pakistan’s highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider.
"After the attacks were complete, Rana allegedly told Headley that the "Indians deserved it.” In an intercepted conversation with Headley, Rana allegedly commended the nine LeT terrorists who had been killed committing the attacks, saying that “[t]hey should be given Nishan-e-Haider”—Pakistan’s “highest award for gallantry in battle,” which is reserved for fallen soldiers," the statement read.
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