Kasab's trial put off by a week

Mumbai, Apr 5 (PTI) The trial of lone surviving gunman
in the Mumbai terror attack case, Mohammed Amir Ajmal Kasab,
scheduled to begin in the premises of Arthur Road central jail
tomorrow, has been put off by a week as the construction of
the special court is not yet over.

"The construction of court's slab is still on and the
work is expected to be completed in six to seven days",
special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told PTI.

The Public Works Department has informed the jail
authorities that the work is going in full swing since last
month and the construction would be completed soon. Only then
will they be able to hand over the court premises to the jail
authorities.

A portion of the jail has been segregated for Kasab's
cell and the court. Earlier TADA court, which conducted the
1993 bomb blast trial was housed here. In between Kasab's cell
and the court, the authorities have built a bomb proof tunnel
to allow Kasab direct access to the court from the prison.

According to prosecutor Nikam, Kasab and two others
would be produced before the sessions court tomorrow through
video conference facility. This court is now in South Mumbai
and would shift to Arthur Road jail after the construction of
the new court is over.

Police have thrown a thick security blanket in and
around the prison and have restricted the movement of people
and vehicles in the bylane touching the Arthur Road jail.

Kasab is now lodged in an isolated cell and is not
allowed to meet other prisoners.

The other two accused, Fahim Ansari and Shahbuddin,
lodged in different prison, would also appear before the court
through video conference.

They are alleged to have done the recce of terror
targets, Hotel Taj, CST station and hotel Trident, at the
instance of LeT and prepared maps which were referred by Kasab
and his companions to strike terror in Mumbai, killing over
160 and injuring about 300 by opening fire at these places on
November 26 last year.

Kasab had earlier told Judge M L Tahilyani that he
could not understand the language of 11,000 page charge-sheet
but the court replied that his lawyer Anjali Waghmare is
proficient in both Marathi and English languages and would
brief him about the charge-sheet. PTI SVS
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