Ajmal Kasab Sentenced to Death: But Will he Hang Soon...?

Media Reports
Bellevision Media Network

 

Mumbai, 7 May 2010: As was predictable, Ajmal Amir Kasab was sentenced to death by the Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani who had been presiding over the special court trying Ajaml Kasab over the past seven months for 26/11 terrorist acts. After a long drawn court proceedings, Judge M.L. Tahaliyani had declared Ajmal Kasab as guilty on Monday, 3rd May 2010 of most of the 86 charges slapped on him by a lengthy charge sheet.

Pronouncing the judgement, on Thursday, 6th May 2010, Justice M.L. Tahaliyani said that Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab “shall be hanged by neck till he is dead.” Pronouncing these words, the Special Sessions Court here on Thursday sentenced to death the lone surviving gunman of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Kasab was given the death penalty on five counts: murder, abetment to murder, waging war, criminal conspiracy and committing terrorist acts. He was also awarded life imprisonment on five counts: attempt to murder in furtherance of a common intention, kidnapping and abducting in order to murder, conspiracy to wage war, collecting arms with the intention of waging war and causing explosion thus endangering life and property.

Though the special court in Mumbai sentenced Kasab to death, there is no time frame for his hanging. Kasab can appeal in the High Court, then in Supreme Court and finally can file a mercy petition with the President of India. Legal experts believe that the complexity of Indian judicial system may delay Kasab’s hanging for years. And till then, he will be in the safe custody and enjoy food, clothing and many other benefits, which are being given to such high-profile prisoners.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told reporters that a confirmation of the death penalty from the Bombay High Court was awaited. Kasab would continue to be housed at the high security Arthur Road jail till further orders by the government.

Many people feel that it is an irony that Kasab, who killed people without any mercy and wan ted to kill more, cannot be hanged immediately, even though he was sentenced to death as the legal course in India  is a long drawn process with appeals to higher courts and ultimately the mercy petition to the President. According to various polls conducted by different TV channels and news papers, majority of Indians welcomed the sentence and are eager to see an early end to the entire episode by hanging Kasab as early as possible.