Mumbai attacks gunman Ajmal Kasab hanged
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab. — File Photo by AP
MUMBAI: The sole surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, was executed on Wednesday, nearly four years after 166 people were killed in a three-day rampage through India’s financial capital.
Pakistan-born Kasab was hanged at Yerwada jail in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his pleas for mercy earlier this month.
“Kasab was transferred to Yerwada jail two days ago. He was hanged at 7:30 this morning (0200 GMT),” Maharashtra home minister R.R. Patil announced to reporters in Mumbai. “His execution is a fitting tribute to the victims of Mumbai attacks.”
The 25-year-old Kasab was one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to the city in attacks that began on November 26, 2008, and lasted nearly three days. It was the deadliest militant onslaught on Indian soil since independence.
He was sentenced to death in May 2010 after he was found guilty of a string of charges, including waging war against India, murder and terrorist acts.
During the attacks, the heavily-armed gunmen stormed targets in Mumbai including luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a hospital and a bustling train station.
Kasab initially pleaded not guilty at his trial but later confessed, admitting he was one of the gunmen sent by the LeT.
At his trial, the prosecution produced fingerprint, DNA, eyewitness and TV footage evidence showing him opening fire and throwing grenades at Mumbai’s main railway station in the bloodiest episode of the attacks.
When his trial began in 2009, Kasab at first appeared relaxed, joking or smiling at lawyers and reporters.
But he seemed increasingly sullen, withdrawn and even asleep as the trial progressed, prompting fears for his mental state. He showed no emotion in the dock when the verdict was handed down.
Kasab appealed in the Supreme Court, claiming he did not receive a fair trial but his petition was struck down in August.
During his appeal, Kasab argued that he was denied proper legal representation and that some charges against him were not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
“I was denied a fair trial,” Kasab said in a statement when his appeal hearing began in January. “I may be guilty of killing people and carrying out a terrorist act but I am not guilty of waging war against the state.”
Pakistan informed about Kasab hanging: India
India’s government said it informed Islamabad in advance of the decision to hang Kasab, but their Pakistani counterparts refused to accept the letter.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters in New Delhi he had even ended up sending a fax to Islamabad after the letter was rebuffed. Other officials said a similar message had been couriered to Kasab’s family.
“The external affairs ministry gave the letter to Pakistan but Pakistan did not accept it. Then we faxed the letter,” Shinde said.
The 25-year-old Kasab, from the village of Faridkot in the Punjab region, was hanged at Yerwada jail in the Indian city of Pune after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his pleas for mercy earlier this month.
India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said the government had followed diplomatic protocol by informing Pakistan in advance about the execution.
“We attempted to convey to the Pakistan foreign office that this decision had been taken and the execution will be done this morning,” Khurshid said.
“Since those missives were not accepted by the foreign office, by fax we indicated the information to them.”
Prithviraj Chavan, the local state chief minister, said Kasab had been buried inside Yerwada jail while Indian Home Secretary R. K. Singh said his family had been kept informed.
In a statement carried by Pakistan’s state PTV channel, foreign ministry spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan was quoted as saying that “the Indian deputy high commissioner informed us about the execution” of Kasab.
“Pakistan’s stance is very clear. Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism,” he added. “Pakistan is cooperating with the international community.”
Dear Youngstars
A sincere request to you all, please go through the holly books before doing anything. Kasab is a live example. Before joining the group he might not have dreamt about killing human beings. Every human being is “Allah ke Bande” God’s gift. Please keep your self away from such things. By killing you will never get salvation rather you are destroying the God’s creation. Kasab was punished for his deeds which may not be his intention. He gave his life for the sake of some coward people who does not have the guts to do by themselves. They are using others in the name of Allah. These people lost nothing but think about those families in Mumbay who lost their near and dear ones which can not be compensated at any cost and I feel the same with kasab’s family also. Think again and again before you do something which is against the WILL of the CREATOR.
i do believe the same….well Said Mr Pat
Dear Friends In Pak,
As Indian i am really feeling sorry for Kasab and for his family.His brain was influenced by some one else.Real culprits are still moving freely and They are still spoiling future of many such kids and themselves they travel in luxury cars and lives VIP life their kids studies in US or UK.I don’t understand the state of Indian and Pakistani people.Why it is so easy to influence our mind.
Lets forget everything and establish a new lovely friendship relation.
Cheers PAKISTAN
What a beautiful message.
The headline refers to Kasab as gunman…He was a terrorist and should be refered as one instead of using ambigous words like gunman. High time we mustered the courage and called a spade a spade
Terrorism of all types and kinds is condemnable in strongest terms whether that be in India or Pakistan. Terrorists targeting innocent people deserve no mercy. Pakistan is the worst victim of terrorism perpetrated by misguided and misled elements, so-called muslims who are not aware of the basics of Islam and are puppets in the hands of disintegrating evil forces. We need to make concerted efforts to curb this growing menace.
The law has been fully upheld. One weeps for the 166 killed in the dastardly attacks. Justice has been served.
Sadly, more young men, in the flower of their youth, are being, and are going to be, brainwashed to kill and die for NOTHING, as in this case? What can each one of us do to stop it ??
Better late than never.what a waste of time&money for this criminal.
I shower my love to all my Pakistani brothers and sisters..
I am sure every citizen of Pakistan is condemning Terrorism.
Nothing is acheived with Gun. Those who live by barrel of gun also meet their end through gun.
I see more Indians in responding to the article in a mainstream Pakistani newspaper and Pakistanis sharing and agreeing similar point of views. Where are the trouble makers who are heard more often? .
It is not that Pakistani government promoted this terrorist, late Ajmal Kasab. It is just that few in the Pakistani believe in promoting terrorism will give them better control of things, unbeknownst to them that Pakistan itself is eaten away from within by the same force of terrorism. These individuals should be dragged to the courts and be punished (including being executed) not just just to benefit India but also to Pakistan (more than India).
Time for India to hang Rajiv Gandhi’s killers and Kashmir terrorists involved in killing 15 people in the Parliaiment. No mercy should be given to killers of innocent people which ever religion they belong.