California, 18 May 2023, Thursday
An American court in California has allowed the extradition of Pakistani-born Canadian Tahavur Rana to India, who is considered to be the perpetrator of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. According to the information received, India filed a complaint seeking the temporary arrest of 62-year-old Rana in 2020 for his extradition. The Biden administration accepted India's demand for Rana's extradition.
Judge Jacqueline Chuljian of California's Central Prison District Court on May 16 referred to extradition to India in a 48-page order. 26 November 2008 was such a dark day in the history of India when Pakistan inspired terrorists attacked Mumbai. Rana was arrested in America only on India's request. The NIA investigated Rana's role in the 26-11 attacks by the Pakistan-inspired Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.
The court hearing also cited that Tahavur Rana's childhood friend, Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley, was involved in Lashkar-e-Taiba. Headley's role in the Mumbai attacks was aided and abetted by Tahavur Rana, who promoted terrorism.
A total of 166 people including 6 Americans were killed in the Mumbai Terror attack. Out of 10 terrorists from Pakistan, 9 were killed while 1 terrorist named Ajmal Kasab was captured alive. He was sentenced to death on 21 November 2012.
