Tahawwur Rana in its net, NIA guns for 7 Pak nationals

After the extradition of Mumbai attack key plotter Tahawwur Rana from the US, the focus of the country’s investigation agencies has turned to seven Pakistani accused who are yet to be brought to justice in the 2008 terror case.

Five of them are senior functionaries of Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul Jihadi Islami (HUJI)–Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, alias Tayyaji; Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi; Sajjid Majid, alias Wasi; Illyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, alias Major Abdurrehman, alias Pasha. The remaining two are Pakistani spy agency ISI officials–Major Iqbal, alias Major Ali; and Major Sameer Ali.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Patiala House, New Delhi, has issued non-bailable warrants against all the absconding accused.

Sources said the NIA had registered a case on November 11, 2009, under Section 121A of the IPC, Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 6(2) of the SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act against Tahawwur (a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin), his associate and ninth accused David Coleman Headley, alias Daood Gilani (a US citizen), and others.

According to the case details, Headley (a resident of Chicago) and Tahawwur (primarily residing in Chicago) entered into a criminal conspiracy with the LeT and HUJI operatives to commit terrorist acts in New Delhi and other places in the country.

The seven absconding accused are currently in Pakistan while Headley is lodged in a Chicago jail. Headley and Rana were arrested by US law enforcement agencies in connection with terror cases.

On the request of the NIA, the Interpol and the Central Bureau of Investigation have issued red notices against the seven accused. The NIA has sent extradition requests to the US for Headley. A letter rogatory (request for assistance in investigation) has also been sent to Pakistan for extradition of the seven accused, but a reply is awaited.

India