Ex-NIA Official Who Questioned Headley Applauds Rana's Extradition
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Synopsis
Loknath Behera, a former NIA officer who interrogated David Coleman Headley, expressed satisfaction over the extradition of Tahawwur Rana from the US, considering it a significant step in the investigation of the 26/11 attacks.
Key Takeaways
- Loknath Behera is a former NIA officer involved in the interrogation of Headley.
- Tahawwur Rana has been extradited from the US to India.
- Rana's extradition could provide new leads in the 26/11 investigation.
- Rana faces serious charges including criminal conspiracy and murder.
- Collaboration between US and Indian authorities facilitated the extradition.
Kochi, April 10 (NationPress) Loknath Behera, a former high-ranking officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) who was part of the team that interrogated David Coleman Headley—the principal conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks—expressed his contentment over the successful extradition of Tahawwur Rana from the United States on Thursday.
Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistan-born Canadian citizen and a close associate of Headley, was brought to Delhi and is now under the custody of the NIA.
In remarks to the press, Behera stated he was "pleased" to learn of Rana's return to India, highlighting that this development could lead to significant new insights in the ongoing investigation into the 26/11 attacks.
"This marks a crucial advancement. With Rana now in NIA custody, we may unearth additional information about the terror conspiracy—potentially revealing the identities of other individuals implicated," Behera remarked.
A member of the 1985 batch of IPS officers from Odisha, Behera has played a pivotal role in India's anti-terrorism efforts. He later became Kerala's longest-serving Director General of Police (DGP) before retiring in 2021. Following his retirement, he was appointed the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.
Recalling previous intelligence reports, Behera mentioned that Rana had visited Kochi in the past, allegedly for recruitment purposes. "He had stayed in Kochi. It is possible his associations here will now be investigated. We will see if he had any local backing," he added.
Rana faces a multitude of serious charges in India, including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Government of India, murder, forgery, and infractions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The NIA achieved his extradition on Thursday after years of persistent efforts to bring this key figure behind the 2008 atrocities to face justice.
Rana had been held in judicial custody in the US under processes initiated through the India-US Extradition Treaty. His extradition was successfully finalized after he exhausted all legal options to prevent it.
The District Court for the Central District of California had authorized his extradition on May 16, 2023. Rana subsequently filed numerous lawsuits in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, all of which were dismissed.
With the active support of the US Department of Justice, the US Sky Marshal, and the NIA, other Indian intelligence agencies and the National Security Guard (NSG) collaborated closely throughout the extradition process, which also involved coordination with India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs alongside relevant authorities in the United States to ensure a successful outcome.
Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, and operatives from designated terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), along with other co-conspirators based in Pakistan, to execute the devastating terror assaults in Mumbai in 2008. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 166 individuals and left over 238 injured.
Both LeT and HUJI have been officially recognized as terrorist organizations by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
