• Source:JND
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Tahawwur Hussain Rana, accused of plotting 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, on Thursday was brought back to India with the special plane carrying him landing at the Palam airport in Delhi. The extradition occurred after Rana exhausted all his legal options to block his return to India to face the law. A joint team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is reportedly overseeing his return. Upon arrival, Rana is likely to be arrested by the NIA and presented before a special court.

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Ahead of Rana’s extradition, survivors of the 26/11 attacks are demanding the death penalty for him and also praised the Indian government and NIA for their achievement. Devika Natwarlal Rotawan, one of the Mumbai attack victims and a key witness who identified terrorist Ajmal Kasab during her testimony in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case said that other terrorists including Dawood Ibrahim and Hafiz should also be brought back to India.

"Tahawwur Rana being brought to India is a big victory for the Government of India. Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorist masterminds in Pakistan should also be brought to India and hanged till death," Devika Natwarlal Rotawan said as quoted by ANI.

Retired Mumbai Police officer Hemant Bawdhankar also applauded the NIA for bringing back Tahawwur Rana, the 26/11 mastermind and said that it was a big achievement. "Bringing back 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana is an achievement for NIA. We hope he is given capital punishment. We can send a strong message to the world that anyone who casts an evil eye on India will not be spared," he said.

Surender Singh, a former National Security Guard (NSG) commando who was part of the operation during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, welcomed the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, saying that his hanging would be a "tight slap" to Pakistan and terrorism.

"It's a big day for the country. I thank PM Modi, the American President, and the agencies involved in this extradition process. When he is hanged, it will be a tight slap not just on terrorism but also on Pakistan," Singh, now a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said.

Eknath Omble, brother of Ashok Chakra awardee and 26/11 hero Tukaram Omble, called the extradition of Tahawwur Rana a "big day" and urged the government to hang him. Tukaram Omble, a Mumbai police sub-inspector, had caught terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the 26/11 attack but was tragically killed in the process.

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"Many innocent people and policemen were killed. It was a painful night. Tahawwur Rana was the closest ally of David Headley, who was the mastermind of the attack - they all should have been hanged earlier. But it's a big day for the country. I have a request from the government that he (Tahawwur Rana) should be hanged as soon as possible," Eknath Omble said as quoted by ANI.

Mohammed Taufiq, a tea seller who helped many escape the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has said that accused Tahawwur Rana should not receive special treatment, such as biryani or a separate cell, and called for his execution. Taufiq, known as 'Chotu Chai Wala,' also urged for stricter laws to tackle terrorism. Taufiq was operating his tea stall at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) during the attack, where he witnessed people dying before his eyes.

 Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian national, was a close associate of David Coleman Headley (also known as Daood Gilani), one of the main conspirators behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. On November 26, 2008, 10 heavily armed Pakistani terrorists infiltrated Mumbai by sea, attacking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), two luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 166 people, including several American citizens, during a 60-hour siege.