26/11 Hero Calls for Swift Justice as Tahawwur Rana Faces Extradition

Mumbai’s famed tea vendor, Mohammed Taufiq, known affectionately as “Chhotu Chai Wala,” has voiced a strong stance on the impending extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key figure accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Taufiq, whose quick actions during the 26/11 assault saved numerous lives, told ANI that India should not offer Rana the same comforts allegedly provided to Ajmal Kasab, the lone captured terrorist from the attacks. “There’s no need to give him a cell, biryani, or privileges like Kasab got,” Taufiq asserted, urging the creation of a distinct legal framework for terrorists to ensure their execution within months.

Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian implicated in the deadly 2008 assault that claimed over 174 lives, is now en route to India following a prolonged legal battle in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Rana’s plea to block his extradition on April 7, clearing the way for his transfer. According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) first registered a case against Rana in Delhi after the attacks, which killed more than 160 people. While the extradition pertains to this case, officials noted that it remains unclear whether Mumbai Police will seek custody for their own inquiries. “We’ll know if the Mumbai Crime Branch can take custody only after reviewing the extradition terms.

So far, Mumbai Police have received no official word on Rana’s potential transfer to the city for questioning or court proceedings, sources added. Rana, previously convicted in the U.S. for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the banned terrorist group behind the Mumbai carnage, now faces trial in India for his alleged role in the attacks that shocked the nation over 16 years ago. Taufiq’s remarks reflect a broader call for swift and uncompromising justice as India prepares to confront one of the orchestrators of that dark chapter.