Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was brought from the United States to India, but his face has not been revealed to the media so far. This has raised a question among the public — why is the face of this terrorist still being kept hidden? According to sources, Tahawwur Rana is set to undergo an Identification Parade (TIP Test) soon. Due to this legal procedure, security agencies have kept his face away from the media and public view.

What is an Identification Parade (TIP)?

An Identification Parade (TIP) is a legal process in which witnesses to a crime are asked to identify the accused. The accused is made to stand in a line with 4-5 other individuals who resemble him in height and appearance. The witnesses are then asked if they can identify the accused.

In this case, Tahawwur Rana’s identification will be carried out by those people with whom he met in India before the attacks or those who were in places where he stayed. The investigation agencies want the witnesses to identify the accused without any preconceived notions, which is why Rana's face is being kept covered.

Rana’s Connection to Terrorism

Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian citizen, was living in the United States. He is accused of conspiring with Lashkar-e-Taiba to conduct espionage in India and being involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Rana was a close associate of David Coleman Headley, who carried out reconnaissance of several locations in Mumbai before the attacks. After Rana was brought to India, security agencies have been questioning him, and it is believed that his return could lead to the revelation of many aspects and conspiracies related to the Mumbai attacks.

Rana’s Extradition and Arrival in India

Tahawwur Rana was extradited from the United States and brought to India on Thursday evening. He was transported in a special Gulfstream G550 aircraft under tight security. During the extradition, all international rules and protocols were followed. Officials from NIA, including IG Ashish Batra, DIG Jaya Roy, SP Prabhat Kumar, as well as personnel from NSG and RAW, accompanied him. The plane landed at Delhi Airport at 6:22 PM. Before descending from the aircraft, Rana's handcuffs were removed.

Transported to High-Security Jail Van

After completing the necessary paperwork and medical check-up at the airport, Rana was immediately taken to the Patiala House Court. Given the high-security nature of the case, a large number of police personnel and officers were deployed. He was transported in a high-security jail van, usually reserved for the most sensitive cases. The middle compartment of the van housed Rana, surrounded by SWAT team members and officers from the 3rd Battalion.

At the court, Rana signed a power of attorney and spoke for about 20 minutes with the lawyer appointed by the court. When questioned by the judge, Rana answered on his own. Inside the courtroom, he appeared calm and composed, without any visible signs of stress or nervousness on his face.