26/11 Key Conspirator Tahawwur Rana – Harsh Karoliya
Updated: Nov 23, 2021
⮚ What does 26/11 mean? What happened on this day?
On the 26th of November 2008, there were a series of Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai, Maharashtra. These Mumbai Attacks are also known as the attacks of 26/11.
Attacks were organized by an extremist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba headed by Hafiz Saeed, who sent their 10 members through Sea route to Attack India. These heinous attacks which drew widespread global commendation began on the 26th of November and lasted for 4 days i.e. till the 29th of November 2008. As a consequence of this, at least 174 people died, including 9 attackers, and around 400 were wounded. One of the attackers was caught (Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab) and was hanged on 21 November 2012 to death and buried in Pune’s Yerwada Jail.
Ø Places that were attacked:
● Leopold Café.
● Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
● The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
● Oberoi Trident.
● Cama Hospital.
● Nariman House.
⮚ Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Tahawwur Hussain Rana is a former Pakistani military doctor who severed in the Pakistani army. After gaining the citizenship of Canada he moved there and was living as an immigration service businessman.
⮚ History:
Tahawwur Hussain Rana was first convicted in 2011 for providing support to Laskar-e-Taiba and of plotting an attack on the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten along with David Headley another accused of Mumbai attacks. Rana was accused of being a Key Conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks. However, he was not found guilty of involvement in Mumbai Attacks. Indian Government was unsatisfied with the decision of the US court and stated that National Investigation Agency would charge him in a court in Delhi. On the 17th of January 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years of jail for his role in terrorism plots. India also declared him a Fugitive.
⮚ RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS CASE:
In June 2020 Rana was released from prison due to his illness as he was tested positive for COVID-19 and the also court commuted his jail sentence as it was almost over (scheduled to get over in September 2021). On June 10 he was again arrested in Los Angeles because of India’s request for extradition. He filed a bail plea in the US Court stating that he got re-infected with the virus and also offered that his location can be traced through an ankle bracelet with GPS and through his daughter and mother-in-law, but the plea was rejected by U.S. Magistrate Jacqueline Chooljian. The magistrate said that Rana still poses a ‘significant risk of flight’ so he cannot be extradited now and according to the order dated 17th December 2020 the hearing for the Extradition Case is continued to 22nd April 2021.