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The Union home ministry has started efforts to extradite Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative Thadiyantavida Naseer, who was recently arrested by the Bangladesh police for planning a terror strike on the United States consulate in Dhaka. Naseer, who hails from Kerala, is considered to the 'commander' of the terror outfit's operations in south India.
The Bangladesh police arrested Naseer, along with three of his accomplices, after being tipped off about his plans by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI, which arrested LeT operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana from Chicago in October, received information about the LeT's plans in Dhaka after interrogating the duo.
Sources in the National Investigation Agency told rediff.com that from the information available, it is clear that Naseer was actively involved in most of the terror strikes across India last year, including the Bengaluru blasts and the attack on Mumbai.
NIA officials are keen on Naseer's extradition as they believe that he may reveal information about the LeT's future terror plans during interrogation.
Naseer's extradition is expected to be discussed at the home secretary-level talks between India and Bangladesh that will he held on Monday. The Indian delegation, headed by Home Secretary G K Pillai, will hold talks with Bangladesh Home Secretary Abdus Soban Sakdar and his team.
India will also request Bangladesh to hand over United Liberation Front of Asom general secretary Anup Chethi, wanted in connection with several cases here, who is languishing in a Bangladeshi jail.