The US has accused Vikas Yadav, a former Indian government official, of involvement in an alleged failed plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. A diplomatic dispute may arise between India and America regarding this matter. It is being said that America may demand extradition of Vikas Yadav. America has not yet demanded the extradition of Vikas Yadav.
The process of extraditing a person can begin only if he is convicted by a court. The prosecution by the US Justice Department does not mean that Vikas Yadav or anyone else is guilty. But if the US insists, India may also ask the US to extradite David Coleman Headley alias Dawood Saeed Geelani for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Who is American terrorist David Headley?
David Headley's real name was Dawood Syed Gilani. He is a Pakistani-American terrorist who played a key role in plotting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He was associated with Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and helped LeT in planning attacks on Indian cities. During 2006–2008, he went to India and conducted reconnaissance of possible targets for attacks and passed on information to his Pakistani masters.
Hadley's background
David Hadley was born in America in 1960. His mother was American and father Pakistani. He lived in Pakistan in his early life, but later settled in America. In the 1990s, Headley was caught on drug smuggling charges, after which he started working for the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). But during this time he came in contact with Lashkar-e-Taiba and got involved in terrorist activities.
role in mumbai attack
David Headley traveled to India several times from 2006 to 2008 and conducted reconnaissance of possible targets of terrorist attack in Mumbai. He took videos and photographs of Hotel Taj Mahal, Nariman House and other important sites for the attack, which were later used by Lashkar terrorists. Headley stayed at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai in March 2007 and May 2007. His Canadian-Pakistani associate Tahawwur Hussain Rana stayed in a guest house in south Mumbai until 21 November 2008, having moved in just five days before the 26/11 attacks. The attacks sponsored by Lashkar-e-Taiba had the biggest impact on the Taj Hotel. The Mumbai attacks on 26 November 2008 left 166 people dead and hundreds injured. Headley made nine visits to India between 2006 and 2009, one of which was after the terrorist attacks. Rana came to India only once and stayed here for a month.
Why did America not extradite India?
David Hadley was arrested in Chicago in 2009. He entered into a plea deal with the US in which he confessed to his crimes and provided the US with vital information about the planning of the attacks and Lashkar-e-Taiba. In return, the US promised not to give him the death penalty and agreed not to extradite him to India.
The US had allowed Indian authorities to interrogate Headley in 2016 and he had revealed how Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) had given him Rs 25 lakh to buy a boat in which 10 terrorists were sailing from Karachi to Mumbai in November 2008. Had arrived. Headley had revealed in the presence of US officials that it was the ISI that had informed him about various aspects of the plan.
Main reasons for America not to extradite
U.S. citizenship: Headley was a US citizen, and the US often avoids extraditing its citizens to other countries, especially if they are cooperating with the US judicial system.
cooperation and deal: Headley gave detailed information to US investigative agencies about Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and the 26/11 attacks. This information helped America to strengthen its strategies against terrorism.
protection from death penalty: Headley confessed to his crimes on the condition that he would not be given the death penalty. Since India has a provision for death penalty against terrorists, the US refused to extradite him.
Many terrorists taking shelter in US
Apart from David Headley, there are many terrorists taking shelter in the US. A California court earlier this year had said that Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana, wanted in India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, can be extradited to India under the India-US extradition treaty. At present Rana is still in America. Apart from this, the case of Rabinder Singh is also quite complicated.
The US encouraged RAW officer Rabinder Singh to join the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after he visited the US on a government-assisted visit in 2002. In 2004, Singh fell into the trap and along with his wife joined the CIA via Nepal. In 2006, RAW told a Delhi court that he had been found in New Jersey and the agency was trying to extradite him. How the CIA betrayed RAW joint secretary Rabinder Singh and took him to the US via Nepal is mentioned in a separate chapter of former RAW officer RK Yadav's book 'Mission RAW', published in May 2014.
Apart from this, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu remains a citizen of America. Gurpatwant Singh Pannu is a prominent Khalistan supporter and the founder of the organization “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ). The Government of India has banned both SFJ and Pannu for their involvement in terrorism-related activities. The Government of India has filed several cases against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and has declared him a terrorist. The functioning of SFJ is considered illegal in India and Pannu's activities are considered against the unity and integrity of the country.
India's perspective
India has several times demanded Headley's extradition, so that he can be punished in Indian courts. However, due to the agreement with the US and Headley being an American citizen, the US did not consent to his extradition. Instead, Headley was sentenced to 35 years, which he is serving in a US prison. David Headley was the key conspirator of the Mumbai attacks, who helped Lashkar-e-Taiba plan the attacks. Although India has sought his extradition, due to the agreement with the US and his being an American citizen, this was not possible.
