‘Biggest victory against terrorism for India’: Victim of 26/11 attack on extradition of Tahawwur Rana

MUMBAI: Reacting to the extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused, Tahawwur Rana, to India, Devika Natwarlal Rotawan, a victim of the Mumabai attacks, stated it is the biggest victory against terrorism for India and expressed her gratitude to the Governments of India and United States.

Rana has been accused of being involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where innocent people were killed, and is expected to stand trial in India.

Devika Natwarlal Rotawan, a victim of the 26/11 attack, said on Wednesday, “I am overjoyed that Tahawwur Rana is finally being brought back to India. This was the biggest victory against terrorism for India. So, I am very happy. I would like to thank the Governments of India and the US. The US Government supported the Government of India a lot. I demand that information be collected from Rana as soon as he is brought back, information about the terrorists who are still hiding in Pakistan should be gathered, their planning for 26/11 and why was it done should be found out. Tahawwur Rana should be given death sentence at the earliest…”

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India, a victim of the 26/11 attack, Devika Natwarlal Rotawan says, “I am overjoyed that Tahawwur Rana is finally being brought back to India. This is the biggest victory against… pic.twitter.com/qLldc0TLj0

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2025

On April 7, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected Tahawwur Rana’s plea to stay his extradition to India. Rana filed an emergency application with Chief Justice Roberts on March 20, 2025, seeking a stay on his extradition.

“The application for stay addressed to The Chief Justice and referred to the Court is denied,” the SC order dated Monday, April 7, stated.

According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, a case of criminal conspiracy against Rana was originally lodged by the NIA in Delhi following the deadly November 2008 attacks in which over 160 people were killed.

The ongoing extradition process pertains to that case. However, officials clarified that it is yet to be determined whether Mumbai Police can seek his custody for any local investigation linked to the attacks.

“Only after examining the grounds of extradition will it be clear whether custody can be sought by the Mumbai Crime Branch in this matter,” sources said.

Sources added that the Mumbai Police has not received any formal communication so far regarding Rana’s transfer to the city for questioning or judicial proceedings.

Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was convicted in the US for the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives and providing material support to the group responsible for the Mumbai attacks that killed over 174 people. (ANI)