trial will go on despite Kasab's confession, says Nikam

Sunil Shivdasani

Mumbai, July 21 (PTI) The 26/11 terror attack trial
may not conclude soon despite the confession by prime accused
Mohammed Ajmal Kasab in the court as he has only "partially"
admitted to his guilt, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam
said here Tuesday.

Also, there are many other important aspects of
evidence which prosecution has to adduce to expose terrorist
infrastructure of perpetrators of the crime, he said, adding
they will not let Kasab succeed in his "motive" of escaping
with lesser punishment.

"What Kasab has told the court is not the entire
story. He has partially admitted his guilt," Nikam told PTI.

Although Kasab has given a confession, it is the
discretion of the prosecution to marshall further evidence,
he said.

"Kasab has not fully disclosed his involvement. He has
played with the sentiments of the common man by minimising his
role in the crime and throwing responsibility on slain
terrorists for the mayhem on November 26 last year," the
prosecutor said.

Kasab had earlier admitted his guilt before a
magistrate but later denied his role in the November 26 terror
attacks. Now he has confessed in the trial court about his
participation in the terror strikes but has deviated from his
earlier confession.


"He is like a joker in a circus and should not be
taken seriously," Nikam, who has handled several high profile
cases including that of the 1993 Mumbai blasts in his career
spanning three decades, said.

Kasab, Nikam claimed, has not disclosed in his
confession to the court Monday that he had killed police
constable Tukaram Omble although he had said this earlier
before a Magistrate.
On the other hand, he confessed that terrorist Abu
Ismael had led the terror attacks in Chhatrapati Shivaji
railway terminus and Cama hospital killing many people,
thereby shifting the blame on him, Nikam said.

Kasab has said that the trial should be wound up and
he should be punished. "This clearly indicates that he wants
lesser punishment but prosecution will jeopardise his
motives," Nikam said.

"Unfortunately, some politicians, while reacting to
Kasab's confession, have been swayed by admission of his
guilt but they must be careful to see through his designs,"
the prosecutor said.

All those things which Kasab has omitted in the
confession made to the court yesterday would have to be proved
by the prosecution. "Kasab would be confronted with these
contradictions and if he does not admit then prosecution would
lead evidence to prove them in the court," Nikam said.

The November 26 trial is not only against Kasab but
also against Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed who allegedly
gave maps of target spots to the perpetrators of the crime,
the lawyer said.

The trial is also against the 27 absconding accused
believed to be in Pakistan who had planned and executed the
November 26 terror attacks in Mumbai. Hence, Kasab's
confession at this stage would not put an end to the trial,
Nikam asserted. PTI