Mumbai attack mastermind’s friend Tahawwur will be brought to India: Wanted to give biggest honor to slain terrorists in Pakistan

Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, may be extradited to India. Tahawwur, 62, is lodged in a US jail. The District Court of Los Angeles has said in the order of May 16 that in view of the allegations on the basis of which India has sought Tahawwur’s extradition, his extradition can be allowed.

In the 48-page order of the court, the role of Tahawwur Rana in the Mumbai terror attack becomes clear. According to court order documents, Rana had become restless in the days following the Mumbai attacks. He wanted Pakistan’s highest military honor to be given to Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the entire role of Tahawwur in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks. Tahawwur had helped the terrorists in these attacks, due to which India demanded his extradition. He was arrested in America after India’s demand.

During the court hearing, public prosecutors argued that Tahawwur was a childhood friend of David Headley, the mastermind of the attack, and knew that Headley was working closely with Lashkar-e-Taiba. By helping Headley and providing financial help to him, Tahawwur was supporting the terrorist organization and the terrorists along with it.

Rana knew with whom Headley was meeting and what he was talking about. He also knew the planning of the attack and the names of some of the targets. The US government has said that Rana was part of the entire conspiracy and there is every likelihood that he committed the crime of funding the terrorist attack.

On 26 November 2008, 166 people died in the attack in Mumbai. 9 terrorists were also killed in the action of NSG commandos and security forces.

According to the extradition order issued by the court, a co-accused in the attack had met Rana in Dubai. On 25 December 2008, he wrote a mail to Headley asking how was Rana. Is he nervous or relaxed? The next day, Headley replied that Rana was quite carefree and was also telling me not to panic.

On 7 September 2009, Rana had told Headley that the nine terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks should be given the highest civilian honor of the Pakistan Army, the Nishan Haider. He also asked Headley to tell an accomplice who helped plot the Mumbai attack that he should get a top-class medal.

The prosecutor said that 166 people were killed in the Lashkar-e-Taiba attack, including 6 Americans. The terrorists did such acts with the intention of killing, which resulted in the death of people, or at least the terrorists must have been aware of the dangers associated with their action. In such a situation, there is strong evidence that this case fulfills all the parameters of murder.

However, Tahawwur’s lawyer opposed the extradition, denying all these allegations.

On this, the judge said that India has registered a case against Rana and an arrest warrant has been issued against him, on the basis of which action is being taken in America. The charges against Rana include waging war and conspiracy to commit murder, forgery with intent to defraud, and commission of a terrorist act. The judge said that there has been an extraction ie extradition treaty between India and America. Rana’s extradition to India will be done under this treaty.