"Diplomatic success...Sandeep did his duty," father of late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan on extradition of Tahawwur Rana
Apr 10, 2025
New Delhi [India], April 10 : K Unnikrishnan, the father of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the National Security Guard commando killed while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, said the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana is India's "diplomatic success."
"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," the Major's father said while speaking to ANI on the phone.
He further said that Sandeep was not a victim of 26/11; he was a security personnel member who was on duty during the attack.
"Sandeep is not a victim of 26/11. He was security personnel who went there. He was the hand of the Indian people. The real victims are the people who suffered. Who lost their lives in the attack? He was not the victim as he did his duty. If he had not done this in Mumbai, he would have done it somewhere else. He has been doing his duty," he added.
Devika Natwarlal Rotawan, a terror victim and key witness who identified terrorist Ajmal Kasab during her testimony in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, 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.
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was convicted in the US for the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives and providing material support to the group responsible for the Mumbai attacks that killed over 174 people.
The Indian government has been seeking his extradition for years, and the US Supreme Court's recent decision has paved the way for his transfer to India.
Rana's extradition marks a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
