Ajmal Qasab Verdict : He will hang

The Bombay High Court on Monday confirmed Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Qasab’s death sentence, closing a chapter in the November 2008 attack that claimed 166 lives.

Upholding the sentence of the special sessions court, a division bench of justices Ranjana Desai and R. V. More held Qasab guilty in a 1208 page order. Qasab had appealed to the HC against a trial court order which had found Qasab guilty of 86 charges, 31 of which Qasab was directly charged with.

While Qasab smiled when the judgement was read out, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam termed it “ a triumph of justice”. Qasab was held guilty on five counts, including murder, abetment, attempt to murder, waging war against the country and the Unlawful Activities Prevention act.

“ The murders were committed in an extremely grotesque, diabolical and revolting manner,” the bench observed. The court went on to witness statements that Qasab was seen smiling while firing at commuters at the CST station and was also looking for women and children to kill at Cama Hospital.

The order said that the death penalty was necessary as the attack was an attempt “ to destabilise the government of India and to weaken India’s economic might”. The defence lawyers had pleaded that Qasab’s youth be taken into account. But the court cited Supreme Court judgements to argue that age is “ not always a decisive factor for giving the lesser Mohammad Ajmal Qasab.

penalty of life imprisonment”. “ The extreme brutality and diabolic nature of the crime can override this consideration,” the court said.

The court also refused to subscribe to the defence argument that Qasab was of an unsound mind. It dismissed the claim that if Qasab was hanged, he would be acknowledged as a martyr. “ Qasab had no desire to be a martyr. The GPS coordinates the terrorists saved of the route on which they came from Karachi to Mumbai showed they intended to return to Pakistan” the order said.

It added that the “ harsh death penalty” was “ necessary to warn those who may want to take a similar path”. “ The death penalty is important for the police officials and NSG commandos killed or injured in the terror attack,” the bench concluded. Mumbaikars welcomed the verdict by bursting crackers and shouting slogans.

“ My father’s soul will now rest in peace,” said Deepak Bhonsale, son of assistant sub- inspector Balasaheb Bhonsale who was killed in the attack. Qasab’s lawyer Farhana Shah declared they would recommend him to appeal against the sentence before the apex court.