Lone survivor of Mumbai attacks hanged in India

India has hanged Mohammad Ajmal Kasab till death, the only gunmen captured alive from 26/11 Mumbai attacks that killed about 166 people. According to the Indian media reports, he was hanged to death at 7:00 am Indian Standard Time (IST) in Yerwada jail of Pune.

The accused was hanged after his appeal for mercy was rejected by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. The death warrant for Kasab was signed on Nov 8 after his appeal for mercy was rejected on Tuesday by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and that the government was maintaining secrecy over the issue, media reported.

Kasab 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. He appealed in the Supreme Court claiming he did not receive a fair trial, but his petition was struck down in August.

He had moved the Supreme Court on February 14 this year against the High Court verdict of October 10 last year, which upheld a lower court order sentencing the terrorist to death. The lower court had pronounced its judgement on May 6, 2010, 18 months after he was captured.

During the 2008 attacks, the heavily armed gunmen stormed targets in Mumbai including luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a hospital and a bustling train station. India blames the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant organization for training, equipping and financing the gunmen with support from “elements “in the Pakistan military.

The report of his hanging was confirmed by Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil. Kasab’s mercy plea had been rejected by the President on November 8, he added.

Media quoted him saying, “Yes, Kasab has been hanged this (Wednesday) morning at 7.30 a.m. in Yerawada Central Jail,” Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who led the 26/11 terror attacks case.

While stating that Pakistan was informed about the execution of Ajmal Kasab, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, with this (execution) the judicial procedure of 26/11 case has been completed.

The execution comes one day before the Winter Session of Parliament begins and five days before the fourth anniversary of a day that will haunt Mumbai for many days.

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Posted by Web Desk on Nov 21 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.