BREAKING News: Special Flight Carrying Tahawwur Rana, 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Accused, Lands In Delhi

New Delhi: The special flight carrying Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the main accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, landed in Delhi's Palam airport on Thursday afternoon, at about 2:45pm. Rana was extradited from the United States. A special chartered flight carrying the 64-year-old left the US on Wednesday, April 9.

Rana will now be taken to National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters, which coordinated his extradition along with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The team had visited US to bring Rana back after the country’s Supreme Court rejected his review plea seeking an emergency stay on his extradition to India. Rana is likely to be presented before a Delhi court soon after.

The 64-year-old Pakistan-born Canadian national and a close associate of David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, is being extradited from the United States to face trial in India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that claimed 166 lives and left hundreds injured.

Security Arrangements Outside Palam Airport In Delhi:

Rana has been charged under multiple sections, including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Government of India, murder, forgery, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Mumbai Police, however, have not yet received an official communication regarding his transfer to the city.

Visuals Of NIA's Headquarters In Delhi:

Rana was officially handed over to the NIA on April 8 in California. He had fought a protracted legal battle in the US to avoid being sent to India. His legal team had filed multiple appeals, including to the US Supreme Court. However, all his pleas were rejected.

He is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the Mumbai attacks.

Who Is Tahawwur Rana?

Tahawwur Hussain Rana is a Pakistani former military doctor who served in the Pakistan Army. Rana moved to Canada after gaining citizenship and became an immigration service businessman.

In 2011, he was convicted of providing support to the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and of allegedly plotting an attack on the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

On 17 January 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Danish newspaper attack case. A US court has denied the bail plea of Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and declared a fugitive by India, asserting that he has not negated the "risk of flight".

Rana was born and raised in Chichawatni in the province of Pakistan's Punjab and attained his education at the Cadet College Hasan Abdal. Notably, at this college, Rana befriended Headley. A physician by profession, Rana served as a captain general duty practitioner in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps.

He and his wife, who is also a physician, immigrated to Canada in 1997, and obtained Canadian citizenship in June 2001.

Rana along with Headley planned the Mumbai terror attack.

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