Tahawwur Rana likely to be kept in Tihar Jail's 'Anda Cell', says media reports; know about India’s harshest prison wing

Tahawwur Rana to be lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail

26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana was brought back to India this evening following his extradition from the US. After his appearance in Patiala House Court of Delhi, Rana will be lodged in a high-security cell of Tihar Jail.

He was formally arrested by the NIA and taken to the agency headquarters from Palam Technical Airport. A report by Aaj Tak suggests that Rana will be lodged in the ‘Anda Cell’ of Tihar Jail.

What is 'Anda Cell'?

‘Anda Cell’ (literally meaning "egg-shaped cell") is a colloquial term for a high-security prison cell or compound, characterized by its egg-like shape and is designed for high-profile, dangerous, or problematic inmates who require strict surveillance and isolation from the general prison population.

The term Anda refers to the shape of the cell, which is small, spherical, and constructed in such a way that the inmate is effectively cut off from the outside world, contributing to their psychological isolation. There is no electricity, no window in such cells.

An opinion piece on The Indian Express quoted Arun Ferreira’s 2014 prison memoir Colours of the Cage, which described the ‘anda cell’ in the Indian context.

“The anda barracks are a cluster of windowless cells nestling against a high oval perimeter wall, a maximum-security zone within the high security confines of the Nagpur Central Jail…You can’t see anything outside: No greenery, no sky. There is a watchtower in the center of the anda, and from the top, the yard must actually resemble an enormous, air-tight concrete egg. But there’s a vital difference. The 'anda' is impossible to break out of. Rather it’s designed to make inmates crack,” it read.

Rana's extradition to expose Pak state actors' role

His extradition from the US could provide important leads into his travels in parts of northern and southern India days before the carnage in 2008, according to sources quoted by PTI.

The central security officials had found that Rana had visited Hapur and Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Kochi in Kerala, Ahmedabad in Gujarat, and Mumbai in Maharashtra with his wife Samraz Rana Akhtar between November 13 and November 21, 2008, they said.

Rana had submitted business sponsor letters from 'Immigrant Law Center' and Property Tax payment notice from Cook County as his address proof.

The sources said once Rana is brought to India, the purpose of these visits would be established.