Security was heightened in several areas in Delhi ahead of the arrival of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana, who was extradited by the US on Thursday. Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, will be transported to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters in a bulletproof vehicle from the Palam airport upon his arrival, sources told media.
The Delhi Police Special Cell has been placed on alert and SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) commandos have already been deployed at the airport. Rana's bulletproof car will be accompanied by armoured vehicles in the convoy, sources said.
Along with the bulletproof vehicle, a "marksman" vehicle has also been kept on standby. The "marksman" vehicle is a highly secure and armoured car that can withstand any form of attack.
It is typically used by security agencies for transporting high-risk individuals, including terrorists and gangsters, to courts or agency offices.
Rana, who is being extradited from the US nearly 16 years after his arrest, will be officially arrested by the NIA upon his arrival. He will then be produced before a court virtually and then taken into judicial custody. The former Pakistani army personnel will be kept in a high-security ward in Tihar Jail.
In NIA custody, Rana will likely be questioned to ascertain the role of Pakistani state actors behind the 26/11 attacks. His interrogation may shed new light on the investigation.
Rana has been accused by the NIA of facilitating reconnaissance for the attacks via his immigration consultancy business. This reconnaissance was carried out by Pakistani American David Coleman Headley, who is presently in US jail.
On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists launched coordinated terror attacks at 12 locations in Mumbai, killing 166 people. One of the terrorists, Ajmal Kasab, was caught and later hanged at a Pune prison in 2012
Source: India Today