India to seek access to Headley associate Rana
1 Feb 2013 6:26 AM IST
India on Thursday said it will seek access to Tahawwur Rana, an accomplice of convicted terrorist David Headley from the US and maintained that its demand for their extradition ‘continues to stand’ to take forward its legal processes in Mumbai terror strike cases.
Asserting that bringing to justice the perpetrators of 26/11 was work in progress which India intends to take to its logical conclusion, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said the country will once again seek US government’s support for access to Rana and also further access, as may be deemed necessary, to Headley.
He was asked about India’s view on recent remarks made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her global town hall that Headley has got the best possible sentence, indicating that he will not be extradited to India.
‘Our objective has been that the processes initiated with the filing of charge sheet against nine individuals by the NIA special court regarding the conspiracy surrounding the Mumbai terror attacks is taken forward. And that is our goal’.
Two of these charge sheets are against Headley and Rana.
The US has been helpful, thus far, within the limits of their own laws. They have enabled us access to Headley. Our officials have been able to spend seven days questioning him.
‘However, we have not been able to question Rana earlier given his rights as an accused under US laws but now that he is a sentenced prisoner,’ the spokesperson said.
Asserting that bringing to justice the perpetrators of 26/11 was work in progress which India intends to take to its logical conclusion, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said the country will once again seek US government’s support for access to Rana and also further access, as may be deemed necessary, to Headley.
He was asked about India’s view on recent remarks made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her global town hall that Headley has got the best possible sentence, indicating that he will not be extradited to India.
‘Our objective has been that the processes initiated with the filing of charge sheet against nine individuals by the NIA special court regarding the conspiracy surrounding the Mumbai terror attacks is taken forward. And that is our goal’.
Two of these charge sheets are against Headley and Rana.
The US has been helpful, thus far, within the limits of their own laws. They have enabled us access to Headley. Our officials have been able to spend seven days questioning him.
‘However, we have not been able to question Rana earlier given his rights as an accused under US laws but now that he is a sentenced prisoner,’ the spokesperson said.
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