Dummy code used for flight that brought Mumbai terror attacks accused Rana from US to India to hide it from flight trackers

Taking utmost care in Rana's extradition, a dummy code was prepared for the chartered plane, Gulfstream G550, that carried him to India. This was so that he could not be traced on public flight trackers and the risk of attack could be reduced, reported Navbharat Times.

Rana sent to 18-day NIA custody

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday sent the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana to 18-day custody, hours after he arrived in India following his extradition from the US.

Rana landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening on a special flight and was arrested by the probe agency upon his arrival.

In a statement, the NIA said it secured his extradition after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice.

"Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty for his extradition. The extradition finally came through after Rana exhausted all legal avenues to stay the move," the NIA said in a statement.

Rana arrived in India just two months after US President Donald Trump, during his meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi, said his administration approved the extradition of the 26/11 attacks accused.

Mumbai Attacks

The 26/11 attacks are considered one of the major terror incidents that India has recorded.

The attacks left 166 people killed and hundreds of others injured.

Over the course of nearly 60 hours starting November 26, 2008, ten operatives from Lashkar-e-Taiba struck multiple locations in Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and the Jewish Chabad House. Planned in Pakistan, the attacks drew international condemnation.

Ajmal Kasab, the sole attacker captured alive, was later tried and executed, while several other accused have yet to face justice.