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Indian Muslim youths celebrate after the judgement of the death sentence in May 2010 Rajanish Kakade/AP

Death penalty confirmed for sole surviving Mumbai attacks gunman

Mohammad Kasab is expected to lodge a final appeal for clemency with the new President of India Pranab Mukherjee.

INDIA’S SUPREME COURT confirmed today the death sentence has been handed down to Mohammed Kasab, the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed.

Pakistan-born Kasab, one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to India’s financial capital in attacks that lasted nearly three days, had appealed against the sentence claiming that he had not received a fair trial.

“We are left with no option but to award death penalty,” the two judges said in a court order. “The primary and foremost offence committed by Kasab is waging war against the government of India.”

Kasab, who is currently held in a maximum-security prison in Mumbai, was found guilty on charges including waging war, murder and terrorist acts, and was sentenced to death in May 2010.

After losing his Supreme Court petition, Kasab is expected to lodge a final appeal for clemency with new President Pranab Mukherjee, who has another 11 cases to consider.

Execution

Only one execution has taken place in India in 15 years; that of a former security guard hanged in 2004 for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.

“The best possible points were put forward dispassionately on behalf of the accused,” state prosecutor Gopal Subramanium told reporters. “They have been considered and the court ultimately dismissed the appeal.”

Ujjwal Nikam, who led the case against Kasab throughout the trial process, called on the death sentence to be carried out “as soon as possible so that it gives a strong signal to terrorists.”

During the November 2008 attacks, heavily armed Islamist 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 organisation for training, equipping and financing the gunmen with support from “elements” in the Pakistan military.

Kasab initially pleaded not guilty but later confessed, admitting he was one of the gunmen sent by the LeT.

Fair trial

At his trial, the prosecution produced fingerprint, DNA, eyewitness and TV footage evidence showing him opening fire and throwing grenades at Mumbai’s main railway station in the bloodiest episode of the attacks.

“I was denied a fair trial,” Kasab said in a statement when his appeal hearing began in January. “I may be guilty of killing people and carrying out a terrorist act but I am not guilty of waging war against the state.”

He said that he was denied proper legal representation and that some charges against him were not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Pakistan has admitted that the attacks were planned partly on its soil, but flatly denies any official involvement. It charged seven alleged plotters behind the attacks in 2009 but insists it needs more evidence to convict them.

Speaking at a conference in Tehran, Foreign Minister SM Krishna reacted to the court’s decision by saying that he was “sure Pakistan will not fail to take note of it”.

The Mumbai attacks horrified India as each development unfolded live on television, and there have been widespread public calls for Kasab’s execution.

Previous Indian presidents have often stone-walled death penalty decisions.

The last president, Pratibha Patil, tried to clear the backlog by granting clemency in 19 cases and refusing it in two.

Police today said the Supreme Court’s decision was a vindication of their work.

“The verdict… is an important milestone in our fight against terror,” Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of the Mumbai police, told reporters.

“To capture him alive, to investigate him… to put him on trial… we have proved before the whole world that we are fair, we are judicious, we are democratic.”

The court in New Delhi also upheld the acquittals handed out in February 2011 to Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmad, who were charged by police for helping the gunmen with logistics.

(c) AFP, 2012

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    Mute C Mc Gyver
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:01 AM

    No problem with Monday its Tuesday I’m fearing!

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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Mar 28th 2016, 6:42 AM

    Yeah, its true, we really should just stop and think about where we’re at.We take for granted our mental state of health . Unfortunately, we are always planning ahead for and not chillin out and enjoying the moment. Financial stress does this to us all.Its not easy to be in the here and now but we must try, as we owe it to ourselves.So cmon, its a new day, altogether now, Breathe in, Breathe out, breathe in, Breathe out, Ah im exhausted already, im goin back asleep!

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:07 AM

    I hope I win the lotto, I hope I win the lotto, I hope I win the lotto….

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    Mute .
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:12 AM

    Perhaps at Easter there is a Christian answer to stress rather than having to go to Eastern philosophies

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    Mute Jane
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:34 AM

    What would that be then?

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    Mute Pat Maher
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    Mar 28th 2016, 7:34 AM

    What’s wrong with trying things from other cultures and faiths? It broadens the mind, no-one has all the answers. Seems quite un-Christian to close your mind to the thoughts and philosophies of others simply because the aren’t attached directly to your faith, Jesus wouldn’t have gained too many followers if he’d taken that approach, he loved everyone.

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    Mute na buachailí
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    Mar 28th 2016, 9:06 AM

    Some might say the pressures placed on younger people to live that perfect Christian life is part of the problem causing pressures and stress on people?

    I am Christian and believe in living s good life and loving others etc etc but an wholly against the ‘church’ preaching, aged men who never have had a relationship, instructing us on how to manage ours etc, crazy stuff!

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    Mute .
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    Mar 28th 2016, 10:50 AM

    Well Budda preached the truth is within you path to enlightment Jesus preached that he was the truth and could forgive sin

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:06 AM

    Keep praying.

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    Mute .
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:11 AM

    Well believing in teaching of Buddha and Jesus at same time is contradictory Bit like supporting FG and People before Profit at the same time They believe in different things

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Mar 28th 2016, 6:50 PM

    Another top tip, not mentioned in the article, is to try and avoid thejournal.ie entirely.

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    Mute Keith Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2016, 7:04 AM

    By sheer coincidence here’s my blog on my experience of mindfulness featuring a reference to 1916 for the week that’s in it:

    https://twitter.com/keifib/status/713403824560414720

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    Mute Gash
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:34 AM

    I’m pissed

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    Mute Timber Planks
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    Mar 28th 2016, 5:33 PM

    Me too.

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    Mute Pat Maher
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    Mar 29th 2016, 4:34 PM

    And you don’t think that Fine Gael might have some policies you agree with and so might People before Profit. They are not mutually exclusive. You as an individual can decide what you agree with, so can everyone else.

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