Surat bomb-blast accused Tiger Hanif to be extradited to India

London, 19 April 2013

Tiger Hanif, who is wanted in India in connection with two bomb attacks in Surat, Gujarat in 1993, which killed an eight-year-old schoolgirl has lost his appeal in a UK High Court against extradition to India.

Hanif, whose full name is Mohammed Hanif Umerji Patel, 51, was traced to a grocery store in Bolton, Greater Manchester in March 2010. He is said to be an associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Hanif was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in February 2010 on an extradition warrant that alleged conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions.

Hanif has since been contesting extradition on the ground that he would be tortured by Indian officials, and that confessions of others involved with the bombings had been allegedly gained through torture interrogations.

In 1993, the terrorists had lobbed a Russian grenade at Gujarat Express train stationed at Surat railway station, injuring 38. Thirteen years later, four men accused in the station blast were listed on the Interpol red corner list as they are absconding.

One of them is Farooque Surti, who reportedly went to the extent of test firing AK-47 rifles and even exploded a grenade on the outskirts of Surat, before lobbing one at the passengers in the train. The others are Salim Lala, Hanif Tiger and Gajnabi alias Gajno.

They were involved in the conspiracy, transaction of cash and shipment of arms and ammunition into the city. While Farooque Surti is reportedly based in Pakistan, Gajnabi operates from Dubai, Hanif Tiger escaped to United Kingdom.

Karachi based Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is also wanted in this case.