Indian Court Gives Death Sentence To Mumbai Attacks Gunman Ajmal Kasab
The only surviving gunman from November 26, 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai that killed more than 160 people was sentenced to death today.
Announcing the verdict, a judge said that the crimes of Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani man who was one of 10 attackers, were so reprehensible that “the court has no option except going with the death penalty.”
The 22-year-old Pakistani citizen, who looked slightly unwell and kept his head lowered during the hearing, appeared emotionless after hearing the verdict.
When asked if he would like to say anything, Kasab responded by shaking his head. The judge, M.L. Tahaliyani, awarded the death sentence to Kasab for four crimes. He was also given two dozen other lesser sentences. Kasab will not be hanged quickly as the Mumbai High Court needs to ratify the decision. Kasab also has the option to appeal further, to the Supreme Court, and he could also seek mercy from the Indian president.
“I don’t think words are necessary to illustrate the brutality of the attack. The brutality could be witnessed from the faces of the witnesses in the court,” said the judge. Referring to Kasab’s actions, the judge added: “He fired indiscriminately, without any consideration of the age or sex of the passengers. Children were killed. Women were killed.”
On his part, Kasab appealed for leniency, Tahaliyani said it was impossible that Kasab could be reformed or rehabilitated, because he is a hardcore militant and has served the Pakistan-based terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Taiba with full dedication.
