26/11 Attack – Sadanand Date: Who is the Hero IPS Officer Behind the Courageous Response to the Mumbai Terror Attacks?
In a significant development in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused and former Pakistani Army doctor, is expected to be extradited to India either late tonight or by early tomorrow morning. He will be brought from the United States on a special flight and is likely to be taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A special team of intelligence and investigation officers will accompany him during the transfer. All necessary legal formalities for his extradition have reportedly been completed.
The Hero of 26/11: IPS Officer Sadanand Date
During the heinous 26/11 attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, which claimed the lives of 166 people, several brave officers stepped up to defend the city—one of whom was Sadanand Date, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Maharashtra cadre (1990 batch).
At the time of the attacks, Sadanand Date was among the officers who responded swiftly and courageously. Despite being severely injured, he fought valiantly against the terrorists, saving numerous lives. Over the years, he has held important positions not only in the Maharashtra police force but also in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and various other central agencies. His role during the 26/11 attacks remains one of the most heroic chapters in modern Indian policing history.
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Captain Tahawwur Hussain Rana was born on 12 January 1961. He is a former Pakistani military doctor who served in the Pakistan Army. After obtaining citizenship, he moved to Canada and became an immigration services practitioner. The US Supreme Court, in an order issued on 21 January 2025, paved the way for Rana's extradition to India.
Who is Tahawwur Hussain Rana?
Captain Tahawwur Hussain Rana, born on January 12, 1961, is a former doctor in the Pakistan Army who later acquired Canadian citizenship and moved into the field of immigration services. His name surfaced in global headlines due to his alleged involvement in the planning and support of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, orchestrated by the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In 2011, Rana was convicted in the United States for providing support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and for conspiring to attack the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. On January 17, 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The US Supreme Court recently cleared the path for his extradition to India through an order issued on January 21, 2025. Rana, who was also declared a fugitive by Indian authorities, had his bail plea rejected by a US court, prompting the current transfer process.