26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana on Thursday made another last ditch effort to avoid extradition to India, alleging ‘torture’ in India.
He approached the US Supreme Court, seeking an emergency stay on his previously allowed extradition. In the appeal application, Rana contended that his survival chances would be insufficient for facing trial in India, citing multiple factors. His petition specifically mentioned that “if a stay is not entered, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction, and the petitioner will soon be dead.”
The 26/11 terror attacks suspect alleged that his extradition to India would likely lead to his torture, given his status as a Pakistani-origin Muslim individual.
This comes as Rana’s extradition was greenlit by US President Donald Trump last month. During a joint press conference at the White House with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump had announced the decision and suggested additional extraditions would follow. “We are giving a very violent man (Tahawwur Rana) back to India immediately. There are more to follow because we have quite a few requests. We work with India on crime, and we want to make things better for India,” Trump had said whilst acknowledging the ongoing collaboration between both nations regarding criminal matters.
Prior to Trump’s approval, US Supreme Court had rejected Rana’s appeal on January 21 which was over a ruling by a lower court which also gave it ruling, allowing Ran’s extradition to India where he is wanted in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.
Rana, who holds Canadian citizenship and has Pakistani origins, faces charges in India for his involvement in the Mumbai attacks that resulted in over 174 fatalities. He was found guilty in the United States for providing support to the proscribed organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). India has been seeking his extradition for an extended period.
In connection with the 26/11 attack, Rana is alleged to have assisted his associate David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, who possessed US citizenship through his American mother and Pakistani father. US authorities apprehended Headley in October 2009.
Rana’s involvement reportedly extended beyond being cognisant of Headley’s connections to LeT, the Pakistan-based outlawed terrorist group. He actively supported Headley by providing him with false credentials, which enabled Headley to travel to India and scout potential targets for LeT’s 2008 operation.