K Unnikrishnan, father of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who received Ashok Chakra for his bravery during 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, described the extradition of accused Tahawwur Rana as a “diplomatic success” for India.
Speaking to ANI over the phone, K Unnikrishnan said, “There was talk of bringing him back after US consent, he is only one of the links. It is the diplomatic success that India gained after a long time. It is not an end thing or a big achievement; there are a lot of layers that we have to achieve. For a common man, he was a link. He made 231 calls when David Coleman Headley was in India. All the evidence is here. This (Rana) is a learned man who can handle everything alone. Let’s see what comes out of this.”
Major Sandeep was a part of the national security guard unit which was called in to neutralise the terrorists at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, on 26 November 2011. However, he sustained critical injuries during a fierce gun battle with the terrorists. Struck by multiple bullets, including a fatal shot from the left, he continued to engage the attackers with precise fire, even as he rescued an injured fellow commando. In the process, he was also hit in the right arm.
Talking about his son’s heroism, he said, “Sandeep is not a victim of 26/11. He was one of security personnel who went there. The real victims are the people who suffered, and lost their lives in the attack. He was the hand of the Indian people. The real victims are the people who suffered. Who lost their lives in the attack.”
“If he had not done this in Mumbai, he would have done it somewhere else. He has been doing his duty,” he added.
Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was convicted in the United States for supporting the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was behind the attacks that claimed more than 174 lives.
After years of legal proceedings, the US Supreme Court has now cleared the path for his extradition to India, where he is wanted for his alleged role in aiding the attackers.
Meanwhile, Devika Natwarlal Rotawan, one of the youngest survivors and a key witness who identified Ajmal Kasab during the trial, has demanded the death penalty for Rana.
“Tahawwur Rana being brought to India is a big victory for the Government of India. Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorist masterminds in Pakistan should also be brought to India and hanged till death,” she said.
Rana’s extradition is a major development in India’s long-standing efforts to bring all those responsible for the 2008 attacks to justice.
