BIG WIN: TAHAWWUR RANA TO FACE THE LAW IN INDIA

26/11 key conspirator "successfully extradited". NIA team arrested Rana on arrival in Delhi. Extradition follows PM's US visit in Feb

- AGENCIES

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was brought to India after being "successfully extradited" from the US and was formally arrested, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Thursday.

The 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin landed in Delhi in a special plane from Los Angeles Thursday evening, ending days of speculation of when and how he will be extradited, officials said.

In a statement late evening, the NIA said Rana was "formally arrested immediately after his arrival at Delhi airport".

Rana was escorted to Delhi by teams of NIA and National Security Guard (NSG), the agency said.

An NIA team at the airport arrested Rana soon after he emerged from the airplane, upon completion of all the necessary legal formalities, it said.

The agency in an earlier statement said that it had secured the successful extradition after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring to justice the key conspirator and "mastermind of the deadly attack" that claimed 166 lives.

"With the active assistance of USDoJ, the US Sky Marshal, NIA worked closely with other Indian intelligence agencies, NSG through the entire extradition process, which also saw India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs coordinating with the other relevant authorities in the United States to take the matter to its successful conclusion," the statement read.