A Delhi court has officially received the trial records of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, marking a crucial step ahead of the anticipated extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the key accused in the case.
The documents were sent by a Mumbai court following District Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav’s directive issued on January 28, according to sources quoted by PTI.
Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian national, is currently in the United States and will be brought to India on a special flight following the US Supreme Court’s rejection of his appeal against extradition. A multi-agency Indian team has already reached the US to facilitate his return.
Rana is believed to be a close associate of David Coleman Headley (aka Daood Gilani), one of the main conspirators behind the attacks. Headley, a US citizen, had provided crucial intelligence and conducted reconnaissance missions prior to the assault.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, one of the deadliest terror strikes on Indian soil, were carried out by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives who infiltrated Mumbai via the Arabian Sea. The terrorists targeted several key locations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, and a Jewish outreach center.
The 60-hour siege left 166 people dead and hundreds injured, shaking the nation and nearly triggering armed conflict between India and Pakistan. Rana’s extradition marks a significant development in the long-standing pursuit of justice for the victims of the attacks.
