End the ‘Kasab show’

Sushmita Dutta 26/11 – A date no Mumbaikar or Indian can ever forget. The visual of the Taj Heritage hotel on fire and a handful of terrorists crisscrossing the city, killing innocent people will always be etched on every Indian’s mind. Amongst these terrorists was a young boy dressed casually in a T-shirt, firing casually and intermittently at innocents – there was no sign that betrayed any emotion on his passive face. He was Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist caught by Mumbai Police. With him was revealed a new face of terror - of a merciless youth equipped with the most modern weapons. Kasab along with another terrorist Abu Ismail Khan showered bullets at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus killing loads of people. Their other Pakistani associates were responsible for the death of senior policemen like ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar and Ashok Kamte. After leaving a trail of dead bodies all over Mumbai and after a difficult gun battle, Ajmal Kasab was captured alive while his accomplice was killed. The battle of Mumbai was won and the prize of the battle was Ajmal Amir Kasab. But the difficult part had just begun. It was now time to prosecute Ajmal Kasab and punish him for playing havoc with innocent lives. It is here when the killer Kasab took advantage of the flaws in the Indian judicial system. Questions were raised on Kasab’s nationality – whether he was a Pakistani or not? After lot of bureaucratic exercise his nationality was confirmed. Next up was whether he should be given a chance of a fair trial, with lawyers refusing to take up his case citing ethical reasons. But the Supreme Court intervened and he was granted a chance to defend himself in the country where he killed humanity. He was given a lawyer, Anjali Waghmare, amidst protests. But she had to be removed and then a new lawyer, Abbas Kazmi was chosen to defend the terrorist. Kasab’s lawyer even tried to argue that the witnesses and the medical reports were questionable, and that he was a minor. So, his case should be tried at a juvenile court. Kasab claimed, "The police have manipulated his age from the beginning to show he is an adult.`` It was then Ujjwal Nikam, the public prosecutor, produced the statements of the doctor at the hospital and also the jail superintendent to quash all doubts. Nikam declared that “Kasab has learnt to mislead the court”. Even an ossification of his collar bone was done to determine his age. After an inquiry report, the Special court declared that Kasab was not a minor. "Aapka case isi court mein chalegi (Your case will continue to be heard in this court) said judge M L Tahaliyani to Ajmal Kasab.`` Judge Tahaliyani after this stated “He is at least 20 years old”. With this at least the argument of his case being handed over to a juvenile court was put to rest. While all these arguments were going on, Kasab kept smiling and behaving as if nothing has happened! As days go by, the trial is dragging like it happens with the most cases in India. Kasab is becoming more relaxed, and demanding. He has been asking for ‘Khushboo’ (perfume), Urdu newspaper and also the money his trainers had given him. He has specially requested the police to let him roam around inside the verandah of Arthur Jail since he had no one to talk to. Most recently, news had it that Kasab was getting bored inside the jail, since he had nothing to do in there. So, he put in a note of request to the special court (hearing 26/11 terrorist attack case) to provide him with books. He demands that either books be provided to him or bought for him using the money that was seized by the police from him. "I am bored and need books to read," Kasab said to the Judge M L Tahaliyani. His lawyer Abbas Kazmi has been providing him with books in Urdu, The lawyer told the court, “He has finished reading them and wants to read more such books,” One must admit though, Ajmal Kasab has lot of guts for his age. After committing such a heinous crime, he is so indifferent of the entire episode. He has been behaving as if he has been captured for a trifle like pick pocketing. The question arises - why is Ajmal Kasab doing such things and behaving in such a manner? Is it because he is a ‘fidayeen’ and has no fear of death? Or is it because he has a feeling that he can play around with the loopholes in the Indian Judiciary? Is he trying to a dig an escape route by making people believe that he is not mentally sound? Has Kasab under valued the Indian judicial system? Isn’t this a mockery of the law and justice of India and also of the people who lost their near and dear ones? According to law, Kasab has been provided by a lawyer to defend himself. The court should do all it can now to wind up the case quickly and hand down such a punishment that sends a chill down the spines of the most hardened of terrorists. If we fail, India will be sending all the wrong signals to the terror outfits that we are extremely vulnerable and that our judicial system is weak. So, it is high time that we put an end to this Kasab show.