26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana to be brought to India
26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana to be brought to India: US court allows extradition, mastermind of the attack is a friend of Headley
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 Tahawwur's extradition has been demanded, his extradition can be allowed.
In 2008, the Pakistani terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a terrorist attack in Mumbai. In connection with the same, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the role of Tahawwur. Due to Tahawwur's role in these attacks, India sought his extradition, after which he was arrested in the US.
During the court hearing, 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 a part of this entire conspiracy and that it is quite likely that he committed the crime of funding the terrorist attack.
On the night of 26 November 2008, 10 terrorists of Pakistan's terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba entered India through a boat from the seashore of Colaba. The terrorists entered the Taj Hotel and fired and blasted it. The terrorists carried out the attack with 10 AK-47, 10 pistols, 80 grenades, 2,000 bullets, 24 magazines, 10 mobile phones, explosives, and timers. 175 people including 9 attackers were killed in the attack.