In a big diplomatic victory for India, the United States Supreme Court has cleared the extradition of Mumbai terror attack convict Tahawwur Rana to New Delhi.
He is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles.
Rana, a 64 year old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, had approached the Supreme Court after losing legal battles in lower courts challenging his extradition order.
No More Chances To Challenge Extradition
U.S. Solicitor General General Elizabeth B Prelogar had urged the Supreme Court to trash Rana’s plea.
Prelogar asserted that Rana was not entitled to relief from extradition to India.
On November 13, Rana filed a “petition for a writ of certiorari” before the U.S Supreme Court.
The 26/11 Serial Attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks came to be known all over the world, as 26/11.
These were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan based Islamic terrorist organization, carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.
The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday, November 26 and continued till November 29, 2008.
At least 174 people died, including nine attackers, and more than 300 were wounded.
Attacks In Different Areas of Mumbai
Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier’s College.
There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai’s port area, and a taxi at Vile Parle.
Action By Mumbai Police And NSG
By the early morning of November 28, all spots except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces.
On November 29, the National Security Guard (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers.
This culminated in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and ended the attacks.
(With inputs from Reuters)
