In a significant development, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks key accused, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, has been extradited to India from the United States. The Pakistan-born Canadian citizen, known to be a close associate of convicted terrorist David Coleman Headley, arrived in Delhi on Thursday via a special flight.
Ahead of Rana’s extradition, a retired Mumbai Police officer and a terror victim and key witness who identified terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case are demanding the death penalty for him and also hailed the Indian government and NIA for their achievement.
“Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India marks a major victory for the Indian government,” said Devika Natwarlal Rotawan, a survivor and crucial eyewitness who had identified terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks trial, ANI reported. She added,”Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorist masterminds in Pakistan should also be brought to India and hanged till death.”
#WATCH | Mumbai | “Tahawwur Rana being brought to India is a big victory for the Government of India. Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorist masterminds in Pakistan should also be brought to India and hanged till death,” says Devika Natwarlal Rotawan, terror victim and… pic.twitter.com/cFB0nZkW46
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025
Retired Mumbai Police officer Hemant Bawdhankar told news agency ANI, “Bringing back 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana is an achievement for NIA. We hope he is given capital punishment. We can send a strong message to the world that anyone who casts an evil eye on India will not be spared.”
#WATCH | Mumbai | Retired Mumbai Police officer Hemant Bawdhankar, who was part of a team combating 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, says, “Bringing back 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana is an achievement for NIA. We hope he is given capital punishment. We can send a strong message to… pic.twitter.com/pD3bTXWAno
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025
Pakistan Distance From Tahawwur Hussain Rana
Meanwhile, Pakistan has sought to distance itself from the matter. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that Tahawwur Rana did not seek to renew his expired Pakistani citizenship after relocating to Canada. Since Pakistan does not permit dual citizenship for those who migrate to Canada, Khan emphasised that it is now “very clear” that Rana is a Canadian citizen.
“Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades. His Canadian nationality is very clear,” Khan said in Islamabad, NDTV reported.
Rana, who is known to have connections with Pakistan’s Army, its intelligence agency ISI, and the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba—the group behind the 26/11 attacks, was extradited from the United States late Wednesday. India has consistently maintained that the attacks were orchestrated with the involvement of Pakistan-based operatives.
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