FBI to let India prosecute Mumbai attackers

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jan 8 (PTI) Offering an unprecedented level
of cooperation to Indian authorities probing the Mumbai terror
case, the FBI has said it will not seek custody of the
perpetrators of the ghastly attacks, that also killed six
Americans, and will let India prosecute them.

Under federal laws, FBI, the primary investigative arm of
the US Government, needs to investigate, chargesheet and
bring the perpetrators to justice whenever an American citizen
is killed overseas.

"This is the major tragedy in India, so it is fully
appropriate that Indian authorities handle the investigation
and prosecution," a FBI spokesperson told PTI.

"If at some point many many years down the road... there
is an opportunity for the United States to prosecute them for
the killing of Americans, our prosecutors would take a look at
that point," he said.

"There is no stature limitation on murders, so it does
not matter when that time would be but absolutely the priority
here is let India to handle the investigation and
prosecution," he said.

At this point of time FBI is not registering a separate
case against those responsible for the killing of US citizens
in the Nov 26 Mumbai attacks. Instead, it is extending all
help to India in investigating the case.

"The FBI will work with the Indian authorities as well as
our partners to cover all leads, wherever they may take us,"
the spokesperson said. PTI