US opposes release of fugitive Tahavur Rana in 26/11 attacks, says threat to flee the country

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Tahavur Rana

Washington: The U.S. government has filed a petition in the Federal Court of California, declaring India a fugitive of Pakistani origin in the 2008 Mumbai Terror Attacks case. Origin’s Canadian Businessman Tahawwur Rana has opposed the release and said he is in danger of fleeing the country.

Rana (59), a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley, was re-arrested from Los Angeles on June 10 at the request of India. India has requested the extradition of Rana in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The attack killed 166 people, including six U.S. citizens.

Headley, a Pakistani-American member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack conspiracy. He became an official witness in the case and is currently serving a 35-year sentence in a U.S. prison for his role in the attack. Rana has been declared a fugitive by India and his extradition hearing is scheduled for February 12.

U.S. District Court Judge Jacqueline Shelonian filed a lawsuit Monday in the U.S. District Court for Los Angeles against U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hana requested the court to reject Rana’s application for release.

The lawyer said Rana had failed to prove that he would not flee the country and that his extradition petition was pending and special circumstances were being created and he needed to be detained. Rana is trying to get his release from custody before extradition by taking advantage of the Kovid-19 epidemic while Hana has filed a petition requesting to keep him in custody till the hearing in February.

Rana’s lawyer has requested that he be released in the wake of the epidemic. On the other hand, public prosecutor Hana says that a fugitive convict facing extradition can get bail only if he proves that there is no danger of fleeing his country and there is no ‘special circumstance’ to release him from custody. Is becoming.

Rana has said in his plea in the court that the Bureau of Prison does not have the capacity to effectively manage Covid-19 so he should be released from custody. Hannah has argued that the bureau is committed to the fight against Covid-19 and is protecting all detainees in custody.

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