"Significant development": Former Home Secy RK Singh on extradition of Tahawwur Rana

New Delhi [India], April 11 (ANI): Former Union Home Secretary RK Singh termed the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused, to India as a significant development and a matter of satisfaction for everyone.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana on Thursday arrived in India following his extradition by the United States.
RK Singh stated that the extradition of Tahawwur Rana has sent a "message to terrorists" that they would face the Indian courts and get punished.
"This is a significant development and a matter of satisfaction for everyone... especially for the victims of the terror attack and their families... This has sent a message to terrorists that if they attack India, no matter where they are in the world, they will be caught, presented in front of Indian courts and punished. None of them will be spared... Interrogating him will reveal more crucial information, such as the role of Pakistan's ISI in the attack and the presence of sleeper cells in India... Expecting that (masterminds of terror attacks) will get punished in Pakistan is a waste of time," Singh told ANI on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought a 20-day remand of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana. The court has reserved the order on how many days of remand to be granted.
Earlier on Thursday evening, Tahawwur Rana was produced before the Special NIA Court.
NIA further states that, as part of the criminal conspiracy, accused No. 1, David Coleman Headley, had discussed the entire operation with Tahawwur Rana before his visit to India. Anticipating potential challenges, Headley sent an email to Rana detailing his belongings and assets. He also informed Rana about the involvement of Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.
The anti-terror agency has presented compelling evidence, including emails sent by 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, to justify his police custody. The agency informed the court that custodial interrogation is crucial to uncovering the sinister plot. Investigators will also examine Rana's role in orchestrating the deadly terror attacks.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Thursday that it has successfully secured the extradition of Rana, the mastermind of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice.
According to the NIA, Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty for his extradition. The extradition finally came through after Rana exhausted all legal avenues to stay the move.
"Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley @ Daood Gilani, and operatives of designated terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI) along with other Pakistan-based co-conspirators, to carry out the devastating terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. A total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured in the deadly attacks. Both LeT and HUJI have been declared as terrorist organisations by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967," the NIA said. (ANI)