June 10, 2011 8:06 PM

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India disappointed over Rana’s acquittal in 26/11 charges

India has expressed disappointment with the US court verdict acquitting Tahawwaur Hussain Rana of charges in the Mumbai terror attacks. Replying to questions from reporters in Bangalore today, the External Affairs Minister said the judicial process in the US had taken a particular view with which India might not be very much satisfied, but linkages between the two persons facing trial and the Mumbai terror attack were fairly evident.He said that India would ask the US to give it a chance to interrogate the accused. Mr. Krishna said it was in the interest of India-Pakistan relations that the conspiracy behind the 26/11 strikes should be investigated in a transparent manner. He said that Pakistan will have to come clean in the matter. India and Pakistan had suspended their composite dialogue process in the wake of the Mumbai strikes. The National Investigating Agency(NIA) is probing the case.Earlier in the day Secretary, Internal Security in the Ministry of Home Affairs, U K Bansal said that the national investigating agency NIA will decide on filing charge sheet against Rana and Headly in an Indian Court. He said, government will go to the court against the 26/11 accused with its own investigation. The US court yesterday, while acquitting Pakistani-Canadian businessman, Rana, of the charges relating to his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, however, found him guilty of helping the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), which is the outfit India blames for the carnage which had claimed the lives of 166 people. Rana faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the two counts combined and remains in federal custody without bond.A sentencing date has not yet been set. Rana is the second defendant to be convicted among a total of eight co-defendants who have been indicted in this case since late 2009. Co-defendant Headley, 50, pleaded guilty in March 2010 on all 12 counts against him, including aiding and abetting the murders of the six American victims in Mumbai. He is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison.

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