Los Angeles court orders US detention of terrorist Rana

A Los Angeles court has ordered that Terrorist Rana be remanded in US custody in connection with a kidnapping case.

In 2008, 166 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The main culprit of the conspiracy, David Headley, was arrested in the United States and is serving a 35-year prison sentence.

His friend and accomplice in the attack, Canadian businessman Thakur Rana, was arrested in the US last year. The federal government has filed a petition in a US court seeking his deportation to India.

The petition came up for hearing in Los Angeles District Court yesterday in the presence of Judge Jacqueline Sullivan.

Rana's lawyer, who denied this, argued that Rana, as a friend, had allowed Headley to use his office and was unaware that he was involved in terrorist activities.

Order issued by the judge hearing both sides' arguments: Let Rana remain in US court custody. The prosecution must provide evidence that he conspired. After considering them, a decision will be made in the case of his deportation. Thus stated in the order.