26/11 Mumbai Attacks: Tahawwur Rana will remain in NIA custody for 18 days
New Delhi: According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Tahawwur Rana, the suspect in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, would be held for 18 days and subjected to in-depth questioning into the “full conspiracy” that led to the 2008 assaults. Late Thursday, Tahawwur Rana was taken to the National Investigation Agency headquarters.
According to the NIA, Rana would be held for 18 days as the agency conducts a thorough interrogation of him to determine the full scope of the 2008 attacks, which claimed 166 lives and wounded over 238 more.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the suspect in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, came to India on Thursday after being extradited by the US. Tahawwur Rana appeared before the Special NIA Court on Thursday night.
Tahawwur Rana, the accused of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, wrote emails that the anti-terror agency cited as strong evidence to support his police detention. Custodial questioning is essential to revealing a dark conspiracy, the CIA told the court. Additionally, investigators will look at Rana’s involvement in planning the horrific terror acts.
According to the NIA, accused No. 1 David Coleman Headley had spoken with Tahawwur Rana about the whole plan prior to his trip to India as part of the criminal conspiracy. Headley sent Rana a list of his possessions and assets in anticipation of any difficulties. He also told Rana that Abdur Rehman and Ilyas Kashmiri were part of the conspiracy.
After years of persistent and coordinated attempts to bring the main conspirator behind the 2008 chaos to justice, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Thursday that it has successfully obtained the extradition of Rana, the mastermind of the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The NIA said that Rana was being detained in US judicial custody as a result of extradition proceedings under the India-US Extradition Treaty. After Rana used every legal option to stop the transfer, the extradition was eventually completed.
“Rana is charged with planning the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks with David Coleman Headley @ Daood Gilani, members of the designated terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), and other co-conspirators from Pakistan.” The devastating assaults claimed the lives of 166 people and wounded over 238 more. According to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967, the Government of India has designated both LeT and HUJI as terrorist organisations, the NIA said.
The Court has instructed NIA to ensure a thorough medical examination when Rana is taken into custody and returned to the Court, according to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority Counsel for Tahawwur Rana.
After much discussion, the judge granted 18 days of detention instead of the 20 days that NIA had requested. The NIA will move an application if they need more time. They (NIA) have been informed that a thorough medical examination would be conducted both when he is taken into custody and when he is returned to court at the conclusion of the remand, as per the court’s particular directions. The Delhi State Legal Services Authority Counsel assured ANI that all of his medical needs will be met.
“He (Tahawwur Rana) has requested that anybody representing him in court, especially since we are from DLSA and doing our duty, there should be no public outrage against the lawyers…,” said the attorney.
