Kasab gets death for 26/11, judge says no chance of reform

Mumbai, May 6 (PTI) Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab was
Thursday sentenced to death for the Mumbai terror attack by a
special court which held that keeping him alive will be a
"lingering danger" to society from a person who has no chance
of reform.
"Kasab shall be hanged by the neck until death," Special
Judge M L Tahaliyani said while reading out the sentence
awarded to the 22-year-old lone surviving terrorist in the
November 26, 2008 carnage in which 166 people were killed.
Bringing the curtains down on one of the fastest trials
in a terror case three days after finding him guilty, the
judge sent Kasab to the gallows on five counts--mass murder,
abetment of murder, waging war against the Indian state,
conspiracy and terror, offences covered under Indian Penal
Code and Unlawful Prevention of Activities Act.
The death sentence will be subject to confirmation by the
Bombay High Court. If ratified, Kasab, a foot soldier of
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), can also appeal against it in the
Supreme Court of India to be followed by a mercy petition to
the Indian President if it fails.
Kasab was also handed down life sentence on an equal
number of counts--attempt to murder, conspiracy to wage war,
collecting arms with an intention to wage war against the
nation, kidnapping in order to commit murder and causing
explosion to endanger life or property.
Kasab, who wore a white kurta-pyjama, sat stoically
through the proceedings in the specially created courtoom in
the high-security Arthur Road jail, lowered his head and was
seen sobbing as the judge read out the sentence.
After pronouncing the sentence, the judge asked Kasab
to stand up and explained to him the verdict in Hindi.
"Pakistan ke LeT se milkar saazish ki uske liye maut,
khoon kiya uske liye maut aur bharat sarkar ke khilaf jung
cheda uske liye maut...aapko marte dam tak sazayen maut di
jayegi (For conspiring with Pak-based LeT, for committing
murders and for waging war against India, you will be hanged
till death)," the judge told Kasab, who just nodded.
"Keeping Kasab alive would be a lingering danger to
the society and the Indian government.
"The possibility of Kasab reforming is completely ruled
out by the barbaric manner in which he had behaved. When the
planned attack was delayed he was very anxious to attack India
....there are too many aggravating circumstances and the
court has no option but to impose death penalty," he said.
Flashing the victory sign, Public Prosecutor Ujwal
Nikam, who expressed happiness over the capital punishment,
described Kasab's sobs as "crocodile tears."
"I am happy because my effort to bring relief to the
families of those killed by terrorists has met with success,"
said Nikam for whom Kasab was the 38th person to be given
death penalty in a case handled by him.
Kasab's laywer K P Pawar said he would not criticise the
judgment but his client has a right to appeal. The verdict
evoked instant reaction with people bursting crackers outside
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(CST) where Kasab was caught on
camera killing people.(More) PTI SVS
RDM


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