Mumbai attack accused Rana acquitted

Govt expresses disappointment, gets BJP rap for not having ensured verdict

The Union government expressed disappointment over the acquittal in an American court of Tawahur Hussain Rana, an alleged operative of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist group, on charges of helping plot the November 2008 (‘26/11’) terrorist attack on Mumbai.

Rana was, however, held guilty of material support to the LeT and of helping it plan a strike in Denmark. It will get him a maximum of 30 years in jail.

US government prosecutors had alleged Rana was aware of the Mumbai attacks and was in contact with the terror group and their leaders in Pakistan.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) advised home minister P Chidambaram to ensure there was an appeal to a higher court on the Mumbai acquittal.

A BJP spokesman questioned if the government had ensured with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation a satisfactory outcome. And, if the acquittal was the result of a deal between the FBI and Pakistan’s own intelligence organisation.

“The Union government should realise that it has to fight its own war against terror. People want the perpetrators of 26/11 punished. There has been enough delay. The list of most wanted terrorists given to Pakistan was wrong. We would urge the home minister to please take his job more seriously,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad, the BJP spokesman.

The Union government said it was disappointed at the acquittal. It said the National Investigation Agency had asked for some documents from the US authorities and it would consider naming Rana as one of those accused when it filed a charge-sheet in an Indian court.

“Government has taken note of the verdict announced by a US District Court,” said U K Bansal, secretary, internal security.

BJP leaders also said the acquittal of Rana had raised apprehensions. “The Prime Minister claims good relations with US but we don’t see that being reflected. US authorities had arrested prime accused David Headley but didn’t hand him over to us. Indian investigators only got some time to question Headley,” added Prasad.