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Mumbai Special Court sentences Kasab to death | A Mumbai Special Court on Thursday sentenced the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist of the 26/11 attacks Ajmal Amir Kasab to death on four counts.
Judge M L Tahiliyani awarded death sentence for Kasab on-waging war against India,
murder, conspiracy to murder, and participating in an act of terror under Unlawful
Activity Prevention Act (UAPA). Judge Tahaliyani felt that Kasab's crime fell
under the judicial definition of "rarest of rare". With today's judgment, Kasab
became the 52nd prisoner on death row in India. Judge Tahiliyani also awarded
life term to Kasab on five other counts. He said, "A common man will loose faith
in court, if this man is let loose. The death penalty is required. There is no
other option. This man has lost the right to get humanitarian treatment." Judge
Tahiliyani also felt that having Kasab alive can be a perpetual danger to the
nation. He also added that Kasab has been a menace to the society. After the judge
pronounced the verdict, Kasab broke down to tears in the courtroom. His whole
body was reportedly shuddering, just moments before the judge pronounced the quantum
of punishment. Immediately after pronouncement of the death sentence, Judge Tahaliyani
sent his order for confirmation to the Bombay High Court. The death penalty will
not be implemented immediately it has to be confirmed by the High Court. Kasab
has the option of appealing to higher courts, and can also file a mercy petition
for the consideration of President of India. Earlier, Kasab was pronounced guilty
on Monday and the prosecution and defence ended their arguments on quantum of
sentence on Tuesday. Elaborate security arrangements were made in and around the
Arthur Road Central Jail where the special court decided the fate of Kasab for
his role in the 26/11 terror attacks. The Arthur Road Jail became a fortress with
large number of police personnel posted at various vantage points on Sane Guruji
Marg which was made one way for the traffic movements. While the prosecution wanted
death sentence for Kasab, his lawyer has appealed for leniency on the grounds
that he's just 22 years old. Kasab has turned into India's one of the costliest
prisoner. Till now, the Government has spent over 35 crore rupees for his safety.
On Tuesday, the public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam, attacked Kasab for two hours,
describing him as "worse than a wild beast... Kasab is a killing machine... and
the orders for this machine came from Pakistan." On Monday, Kasab was found guilty
on more than 80 of the 86 charges brought against him for planning and executing
the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Nikam had laid out eight arguments on why Kasab deserves
to be hanged, among them, that the 26/11 attacks was meticulously planned and
that policemen and defenceless civilians were "mercilessly butchered." He also
argued that Kasab wanted to inspire others to take part in fidayeen or suicide
attacks.
Residents in Mumbai city distributed sweets and burst firecrackers
to celebrate the death sentence awarded to Kasab. Many people
visited the sites of the attacks, such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST),
to celebrate Kasab's punishment. A tea vendor, Mohammed Taufiq Sheikh, who was
also an eyewitness of the attack at the CST, distributed tea free of cost to express
his happiness and demanded that Kasab be hanged within the next few days. "I am
very happy to hear the judgement that Kasab has been given death sentence, but
he should be hanged within two days. They should not take years. Even today we
have many people whose cases are pending. Today, they have sentenced him to death
penalty and he should be hanged within next few days, either in public or in the
court, but public should witness his death," said Sheikh. "Every militant should
think before attacking India and should know that the Indian government is very
strong," he added. Hundreds of people thronged the CST and lit candles at the
memorial that had been erected for the victims of 2008 attacks and burst firecrackers.
"Today, the verdict has come and it has come in our favour, in the favour of the
public. The death sentence to Kasab was the ultimate and which we were anticipating
but we went to the Siddhivinayak Temple and prayed. Ultimately, the God has listened
to us," said Pradeep Bhavnani, President of the Non-Governmental Organisation
(NGO), Mumbai Youth Association. "Now my only request to Her Excellency, President
of India, is that things should be expedited fast," he added. The volunteers of
the National Institute of Jihad Against Atrocities and Terrorism (NIJAAT) also
celebrated the death sentence as they felt that justice has prevailed. "Every
Hindu and Muslim is celebrating the death sentence given to Kasab. NIJAAT organisation
is also celebrating to express its happiness; we are distributing sweets and bursting
crackers," said Haji Hyder Azam, Co-Convenor of NIJAAT. "The way we celebrate
Eid and Diwali festivals, we are celebrating Kasab's punishment as well," he added.
A Mumbai Special Court on Thursday sentenced Kasab to death on four counts. Judge
M L Tahiliyani awarded death sentence for Kasab on-waging war against India, murder,
conspiracy to murder, and participating in an act of terror under Unlawful Activity
Prevention Act (UAPA). Judge Tahaliyani felt that Kasab's crime fell under the
judicial definition of "rarest of rare". With today's judgment, Kasab became the
52nd prisoner on death row in India. Judge Tahiliyani also awarded life term to
Kasab on five other counts. He said, "A common man will loose faith in court,
if this man is let loose. The death penalty is required. There is no other option.
This man has lost the right to get humanitarian treatment." Judge Tahiliyani also
felt that having Kasab alive can be a perpetual danger to the nation. He also
added that Kasab has been a menace to the society. After the judge pronounced
the verdict, Kasab broke down to tears in the courtroom. His whole body was reportedly
shuddering, just moments before the judge pronounced the quantum of punishment.
Immediately after pronouncement of the death sentence, Judge Tahaliyani sent his
order for confirmation to the Bombay High Court. The death penalty will not be
implemented immediately it has to be confirmed by the High Court. Kasab has the
option of appealing to higher courts, and can also file a mercy petition for the
consideration of President of India. Earlier, Kasab was pronounced guilty on Monday
and the prosecution and defence ended their arguments on quantum of sentence on
Tuesday. |
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