In a significant development, a US court has ruled in favor of extraditing Tahavoor Rana, a Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, who is wanted by India in connection with the infamous Mumbai terror attack. The extradition order was issued by California District Court Judge Jacqueline Choulijian, following India’s request under the Extradition Treaty.
The Mumbai terror attack, which took place on November 26, 2008, resulted in the tragic loss of 16 lives, including six US citizens. Rana, who was arrested in October 2009 on charges of conspiracy related to the same case, had previously been sentenced to 168 days in jail. A special NIA court in India has also issued an arrest warrant against Rana.
Investigations have revealed that Rana allegedly conspired with his friend, US citizen David Headley, on behalf of Pakistani terror organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkatul Mujahideen to carry out the Mumbai terror attack. India has stated that if Rana is extradited, it hopes to gather more information about the role of Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI, in the planning and execution of the attack. Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani terrorist captured during the same incident, was subsequently tried and hanged by India on November 21, 2012.
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