Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 10: As Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, landed in New Delhi following his extradition from the United States, emotions ran high across the country. Among the many voices seeking justice was Eknath Omble, brother of the late Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble, who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra for his extraordinary bravery during the attacks.
Eknath Omble welcomed Rana’s arrival in India with a mix of relief and urgency, calling for swift justice. “It is a moment of immense satisfaction that Rana has finally been brought back to face justice. He must be given the harshest punishment without delay. The country has waited long enough,” Omble said in a statement.
Tukaram Omble’s heroic act during the 2008 attacks remains etched in the nation’s memory. He confronted terrorist Ajmal Kasab with bare hands, taking multiple bullets to ensure Kasab was captured alive. His selfless act helped expose Pakistan's direct involvement in the attacks.
Eknath recalled his final conversation with his brother. “That night, I spoke with him after hearing about the attacks on TV. He assured me nothing had happened in his area. But within half an hour, everything changed. He took 22 bullets, yet never let go of Kasab. That act brought truth to light,” he said.
Highlighting the delays in the justice process, Eknath criticized the time taken to punish Kasab and urged the government not to repeat that mistake. “It took years to bring Kasab to justice. This time, we must move faster. The country deserves closure, and the victims deserve justice.”
He also stressed the symbolic importance of punishing Rana swiftly. “Executing a terrorist like Tahawwur Rana would send a strong message to Pakistan and to the world—that India will not tolerate terrorism.”
Rana, a Canadian-American of Pakistani origin, is accused of facilitating the 2008 attacks in which 166 people lost their lives. He had exhausted all legal options in the U.S. to avoid extradition. On April 9, he was flown to India on a special chartered flight and brought directly to New Delhi.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in coordination with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is handling the high-profile case. Rana is expected to be presented before a Delhi court shortly.
The extradition marks a critical step in India’s long-standing effort to bring all perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to justice.