In a startling twist to the ongoing investigation into the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a manhunt for a mysterious woman believed to have ties to Tahawwur Rana, the recently extradited mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks. According to officials, the woman in question accompanied Rana during his time in India and lived with him while posing as his wife. Her identity remains unknown, and investigators suspect she may have played a key role in the conspiracy or acted as a liaison within a wider terror network. NIA officials think this woman could be the missing link in the planning and execution of the attacks. They are verifying her identity and her movements during Rana’s stay in India.
Rana, who was extradited from the United States after a prolonged legal process, is currently in NIA custody for 18 days. The agency is interrogating him for information about the logistics and operatives behind the 26/11 attacks, which were carried out by the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba with suspected backing from the ISI.
Though Rana has reportedly made some significant disclosures but he is largely uncooperative. “His answers are evasive — often limited to ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t remember,’” said an official familiar with the interrogation.
The focus, however, has now shifted to identifying and locating the woman who may have helped Rana operate covertly within Indian borders. Authorities are also probing whether she had any role in coordinating with individuals inside or outside India to facilitate the 26/11 plot or other potential attacks. NIA officials believe that unraveling the mystery around this woman could lead to a deeper understanding of the broader terror network that enabled the Mumbai attacks - and potentially prevent future threats.
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Additional Sessions Judge Chander Singh, who approved Rana’s 18-day custody, underlined the gravity of the situation. “There is a possibility of a much larger conspiracy, possibly involving plans to strike other Indian cities. National security demands a thorough investigation.” As the hunt for the "mystery woman" intensifies, the NIA is pursuing all leads, hoping to bring another piece of the 26/11 puzzle into place - and closer to justice.