Mumbai Police announced on Saturday that Tahawwur Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is not cooperating with investigators. They stated that Rana has been giving evasive responses during questioning.
Police Interrogate Rana for Hours
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has been interrogating Rana about his role in the 2008 attacks that killed over 166 people. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) official confirmed that a Crime Branch team visited the NIA office in Delhi, where Rana is being held.
During the session, police questioned Rana for nearly eight hours. They aimed to gather details about the three years of planning done by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), before the deadly attacks on November 26, 2008.
Investigators Name Key Terror Operatives
Officials asked Rana about several individuals whose names appeared in intercepted calls between terrorists, handlers, and members of Pakistan’s ISI and Harkat-ul Jihadi Islami (HuJI). These include Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, Sajjid Majid, Illyas Kashmiri, and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
However, Rana claimed he could not recall the details of the 17-year-old plot. Rana, a former officer in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, said his memory was unclear.
Accused of Working With David Headley
Authorities accuse Rana of working with David Coleman Headley and members of LeT and HuJI to plan and execute the attacks. He is also believed to have conspired with other Pakistan-based operatives.
Rana, 64, is a Canadian national of Pakistani origin who was living in Chicago. India extradited him and brought him to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on a special flight from Los Angeles.
India Moves Forward With Legal Action
After his arrival, the NIA arrested Rana and placed him in custody for 18 days starting April 11.
India views his extradition and arrest as a major step forward in its efforts to bring all 26/11 conspirators to justice.
