New Delhi: With 26/11 terror attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana arriving in Delhi Thursday afternoon, Tihar jail has made preparations to lodge him in one of the seven jails in the complex with high security wards. Sources in Tihar, however, told ThePrint that it cannot be revealed exactly which one he will be kept in due to security risks.
The jail staff will be briefed about Rana, according to sources. “There will be increased surveillance on him due to security risks. He will be lodged in a ward with a lesser number of prisoners. Prisoners may also be shifted, if it is assessed that there are chances of safety and security breach. He will either be placed in a zone with increased CCTV surveillance or additional cameras will be installed,” a source said.
However, a Tihar spokesperson has said that there has been no official communication to Tihar about the matter. “But Tihar is always prepared, and is a very safe and secure jail. We have all things in place for all prisoners, including high risk prisoners.”
Sources added that Tamil Nadu police personnel on duty in Tihar will be deployed specially for Rana, unlike other prisoners. “Since he is a high profile criminal, they will be with him round the clock to monitor his movements,” another source said.
A third source said that his medical examination could be held inside the ward to restrict movement. “He will also only be allowed to move around only in the block and not interact with other prisoners. There is a risk that he might radicalise other prisoners. In order to prevent that…say for instance, there are three prisoners in that ward, Rana will be taken out when the other two are inside. He will not be allowed to interact with prisoners and vice versa.”
Rana is a Canadian national of Pakistani origin. The National Investigation Agency took custody of him in the United States after he ran out of judicial leverage to stop his extradition. Accused co-conspirator Rana will face trial in India over 16 years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008, which left 174 dead and over 300 injured.
Rana will appear for his hearings in court via video conference, sources said. After landing in Delhi, he will be escorted to the NIA headquarters. He is likely to be sent to Tihar on judicial custody.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed advocate Narender Mann as the special public prosecutor for the 26/11 trial for three years.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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