New Delhi: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the mastermind of the 26/11 terror attacks, landed in India on a special flight on Thursday, April 10, 2025. A multi-agency team had gone to the United States of America (USA) to bring Rana back to India. Rana is a Canadian national of Pakistani origin. US President Donald Trump confirmed his extradition during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit in February. Rana is in India after his last-ditch attempt to evade extradition failed as the US Supreme Court justices rejected his application. As Rana is back in India, let us look back at the timeline of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Was Tahawwur Rana in India before the attacks?
As per multiple media reports, it is believed that Tahawwur Hussain Rana had travelled to India with his wife before the attack and stayed in the Taj Mahal Hotel, which was one of the places that was attacked by the terrorists during 26/11.
Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 took the lives of many, and it will take a lifetime to heal the pain of that day. Let us look at what happened on November 26.
November 26:
8:10 pm: Ten terrorists arrive in Mumbai using inflatable boats. One boat lands at Macchimar Nagar in Cuffe Parade, where six terrorists get out—the other four stay on the boat along the shore. When locals question them, the terrorists claim to be students and tell the locals to mind their own business.
9:20 pm: The terrorists start attacking various locations in South Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Hotel, Trident Hotel, Nariman House, Colaba Causeway, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). At Colaba Causeway, two terrorists shoot at Leopold Cafe, killing ten people. Four terrorists enter the Taj Mahal Hotel by 11 pm; two go to the Trident Hotel, two to Nariman House, and two, including Ajmal Kasab, go to CST. Kasab and his partner opened fire on passengers at the busy train station, killing 58 people and injuring many others.
10:30 pm: The terrorists then attack Cama Hospital near CST. Hospital staff lock the doors when they notice the terrorists approaching. The terrorists begin shooting. Three police officers—Kamte, Karkare, and Salaskar—try to stop them, but the terrorists kill them with superior firepower. The terrorists steal the officers’ jeep and try to escape. However, police intercepted the jeep, killing one terrorist and arresting Kasab.
Taj Mahal Hotel
November 26, 11 pm: The terrorists enter the Taj Mahal Hotel and start shooting at anyone inside. Mumbai Police surround the hotel to keep the terrorists inside until special forces arrive. Navy Commandos are mobilised.
November 27, 2:30 am: Indian Army soldiers enter the hotel lobby.
November 27, 4:00 am: The first group evacuation saves 200 people. More than 100 guests remain as hostages.
November 27-November 29: More specialised forces, including the National Security Guard (NSG), arrive. In a joint operation with the NSG, Navy commandos, and the Indian Army, the terrorists are eliminated.
Trident Hotel
November 26: Two terrorists enter the hotel.
November 27: The Army and Navy assess the situation. Special forces and the Jat Regiment arrive throughout the day. A gunfight occurs, and many people are rescued over November 27 and 28.
On November 28, the NSG announces that the terrorists are eliminated.
Nariman House
November 26: Terrorists enter Nariman House.
November 27: Police evacuate nearby buildings and begin an operation. A gunfight occurs, and NSG commandos arrive in the evening.
November 28: NSG commandos land on the roof of Nariman House. Snipers are positioned in nearby buildings to protect the commandos during their landing. The NSG commandos eliminated two terrorists.
Route of the terrorists
The attackers travelled on a cargo ship with a Pakistani flag. They hijacked an Indian fishing trawler, killing its crew. Upon reaching Mumbai’s coast, they used inflatable boats to land at Badhwar Park and Sassoon Docks, near the Gateway of India, before splitting into smaller teams to carry out the attacks.
Tahawwur Rana, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has been extradited to India. His return follows a failed last-ditch legal bid in the US. The article details the timeline of the attacks, including Rana’s alleged presence at the Taj Mahal Hotel before the attacks and the subsequent events at multiple locations across Mumbai, resulting in significant loss of life. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
