Finally the inevitable happened , 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks convict Ajmal Amir Kasab was hanged on Wednesday morning at 7.30 A.M at Pune's Yerwada jail. The information was confirmed by the Maharashtra Home Ministry, which said President Pranab Mukherjee had rejected the mercy plea of the LeT terrorist on November 8. It is reported that the execution of Kasab was kept a secret for the security reasons.
Confirming all the news Maharastra home minister R R Patil said, "His execution is a tribute to the victims of 26/11 attacks," . Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said that Kasab was shifted out of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail to Pune's Yerwada Jail two days ago. Yerwada Jail is meant for convicts and has provision for their execution. The CM admitted that secrecy had been maintained over Kasab's execution as they did not want to compromise the security situation in any way.
Sources said that Kasab was provided all information before the execution and the jail manual was followed. When he was asked for his last wish and whether he had a will, Kasab said no. Yerwada Jail sources said that the High Court had been asked to inform Kasab's family.
In September, the Maharashtra Home Ministry had recommended that the LeT terrorist's mercy plea be rejected. Kasab had been sentenced to death in May 2010 for his role in the savage attacks that ripped apart Mumbai on 26 November 2008, killing over 166 people, including several foreigners. On August 29 this year, the Supreme Court had confirmed the death penalty awarded to Kasab by the trial court and later upheld by the Bombay High Court. A Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and CK Prasad had dismissed the 25-year-old's plea challenging his conviction and death sentence in the 26/11 case.
He was given a copy of the judgement earlier in September. When the terrorist, lodged in bomb-proof "anda cell" (egg shaped cell), was first informed about the apex court upholding his death penalty, Kasab did not appear shocked, a jail official added.
Meanwhile, the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid says Pakistan ignored a fax message that had been sent to its Foreign Office on Kasab's execution. He said that the rule of law had been followed in his execution, adding that the government will take requisite steps if Pakistan or Kasab's family requests for his body. As for now, his body is buried in the prison complex itself and it's likely to be the final place for him as Pakistan is showing no interest in terms of getting the body back.
(With inputs from the web)
(AW-Jyotishman)
