New York (USA). A month before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first state visit to the US, a federal court has agreed to the extradition of Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana to India on New Delhi’s request through Washington. The Indian government was seeking the extradition of Rana, accused of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
In a major victory in India’s fight to bring the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to justice, US Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of the Central District Court of California on Wednesday issued a 48-page order, stating that India Rana should be extradited to India under the extradition treaty between the United States and the United States. “The court has reviewed and considered all documents submitted in support and opposition to this request and the arguments presented at the hearing,” the order said. have considered.
Based on such review and consideration and for the reasons discussed herein, the court comes to this conclusion and authorizes the US Secretary of State to proceed with extradition proceedings. Just a month before coming to America for the trip. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a state dinner on June 22 to welcome Modi. The order said the court could not certify Rana’s extradition unless there was probable cause to believe it That he has committed the offense for which extradition is requested.
“Therefore, the Court finds that Rana has committed the offenses for which his extradition is sought and that, under the Extradition Treaty between the United States and India, Rana should be extradited to India,” the order said. On June 10, 2020, India lodged a complaint seeking the provisional arrest of 62-year-old Rana with a view to extradition. The Biden administration had supported and approved Rana’s extradition to India. In response to a question, a State Department spokesperson told ‘PTI-Bhasha’ that we would send you to the Justice Department for specific information on the matter. Are.
Rana was arrested in the US after India requested his extradition for his role in the ghastly terror attacks in Mumbai on 26 November 2008. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said it is taking steps to bring him to India through diplomatic channels. is set to begin. Rana’s role in the 26/11 attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists is being probed by the NIA. During the court hearing, the US government’s lawyers argued that Rana He knew that his childhood friend Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley was involved in Lashkar-e-Taiba and thus helped the terrorist organization and its affiliates by aiding Headley and providing cover for his activities.
On the other hand, Rana’s counsel opposed the extradition. A total of 166 people including six Americans were killed in the Mumbai terror attacks. These attacks were carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists. These attacks continued for more than 60 hours at prestigious and important places in Mumbai. A terrorist named Ajmal Kasab was caught alive in these attacks, who was hanged in India on 21 November 2012. The remaining terrorists were gunned down by the Indian security forces during the attacks. India and the US have an extradition treaty. The judge ruled that Rana’s extradition to India was entirely within the jurisdiction of the treaty.
Inputs From: Punjab Kesari
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