The US Supreme court has declined 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana’s plea against his extradition to India, bringing him one step closer to being handed over to Indian authorities, and above all justice. The Canadian citizen, who is of Pakistani origin is a prime suspect behind the deadly terror attack back in 2008, that killed 166 people. For his role in planning the attack, Rana was convicted back in 2011, and was later sentenced to 13 years in prison. He is currently being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles.
Role of Tahawwur Rana in the 26/11 attacks
The deadly terror attack which shook the whole nation back in 2008, involved assaults on hotels, railway station, hospital, and a Jewish center in Mumbai by 10 armed Pakistani terrorist, who all belonged to the Pakistan based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. The 64 year old Rana had assisted in planning this attack by helping David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks. Headley had conducted a recce of Mumbai before the attacks by posing as an employee of Rana’s immigration consultancy. The information that Headley collected was then supplied to the Pakistani terrorists who used it to conduct their attack on Mumbai.
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A US court had convicted Rana for his involvement on counts of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was behind this attack. To prevent his extradition, he had submitted an Emergency Application in the US top court on February 27, that challenged his extradition. Earlier last month, the judge had denied the application, prompting which rana again filed his application, this time requesting it to be directed to Chief Justice Roberts. Today, a notice on the Supreme Court website said, “Application denied by the Court.”
What PM Modi and President Trump had said on Rana’s extradition during PM Modi’s US visit back in February
At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in February this year, President Donald Trump announced that his administration had approved the extradition of Rana—described as “very evil” and wanted by Indian authorities for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks—so he can face justice in India.
“I’m pleased to announce that my administration has authorized the extradition of one of the plotters behind the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack—one of the world’s very evil individuals—to face justice in India,” Trump stated. “He will be returning to India to stand trial.”
