US to pursue case against 26/11 accused
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The US today said it would continue its hunt for dreaded terrorist Illyas Kashmiri, LeT handler Sajid Mir and four others involved in the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans.
The six are named in the indictment in the case in a Chicago court which is hearing charges against Tahawwur Rana and David Headley. Rana was yesterday sentenced to 14 years in jail for providing material support to Pakistan based LeT and for backing a “dastardly” plot to attack a Danish newspaper.
He was also sentenced to five years of supervision by authorities after his release. The court is likely to sentence Headley, the accused in plotting of the Mumbai attacks, on January 24.
US prosecutors have named the six individuals — Illyas Kashmiri, Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed alias Pasha, Sajid Mir, Abu Qahafa, Mazhar Iqbal, and Major Iqbal — as involved in the conspiracy and declared them fugitive.
Kashmiri, according to media reports, is reported to have been killed in US drone attacks, the rest are said to be in Pakistan.
“They are fugitives. They remain at large. So the case is still pending. If they were ever to be brought within the jurisdiction of the United States they would be subject to prosecution,” a US justice department official told PTI.
“Of course you know, there are reports that Kashmiri was killed. So the rest five would still be considered fugitives,” said the official speaking in condition of anonymity.
Normally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under its mandate, seeks extradition of individual responsible for the killing of its nationals as was in the case of Mumbai terrorist attack.
But, the official did not comment on any question related to extradition, except for saying that the US is committed to bring to justice those who were responsible for the killing of its nationals.
“I can’t comment on extradition,” he said.
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