Mumbai Police seeks Interpol help to serve order to Hafiz Saeed, 5 others for 26/11 trial

The Mumbai Police has sought assistance from Interpol, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, to serve a proclamation order against six Pakistani nationals. These six individuals, including Lashkar-e-Taiba handlers Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-Ur-Rehman Lakhvi, are facing an in absentia trial for their alleged involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The police submitted an interim report to a special court on Friday, following a proclamation order issued by the court last month. This order required the six accused to remain present before the trial. The police informed the court that the proclamation has been sent to the home ministry for appropriate steps, as the accused currently reside in Pakistan.

An acknowledgment letter was provided to the police on August 3. The police have requested a 90-day window for further submissions on the process. Once the proclamation is served, the accused will have 90 days to appear before the court. Failure to do so will allow the trial to proceed in their absence, as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023.

The BNSS replaced the Criminal Procedure Code and includes a provision for in absentia trials under Section 356. The police have cited sufficient evidence against the six accused, which include Lashkar-e-Taiba handlers Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-Ur-Rehman Lakhvi, as well as others such as Sajid Mir, Abu Alqama, Asim (Abu Qahafa), and Major Abdur Rehman Pasha.

The 26/11 terror attacks, which took place between November 26 and 29, 2008, resulted in the deaths of 166 people, with Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab and accused turned approver David Headley providing insights into the roles of the accused during interrogations.