Mumbai: Maharashtra Government is stunned
after receiving a Rs 10 crore bill from the Indo-Tibetan
Border Police (ITBP) towards reimbursing expenses on guarding
26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, lodged in the Arthur Road jail
here.
Confirming that the state government did receive the Rs
10 crore tag from ITBP, Medha Gadgil, principal secretary,
Home, told PTI that the Maharashtra authorities are writing to
the ITBP.
"We are in the process of writing to them. We will
explain that 26/11 terror attacks is not only an issue limited
to Maharashtra but a national issue," she said.
The State Government received a request for reimbursement
of Rs 10.87 crore from the Director-General, ITBP, New Delhi,
R K Bhatia for expenses incurred between March 28, 2009 and
September 30, 2010.
"What Kasab and his associates did is an attack not only
on Mumbai but an attack on India and it is unfair to ask the
state government to bear the burden (for ITBP guarding
Kasab)," another senior Home department official said.
The ITPB was deployed in the jail in the run-up to the
26/11 trial, held in a special sessions court set up in the
jail premises.
Last year, the home department sought an extension for
the deployment of the ITBP which comprised around 200
commandos, armed with sophisticated weaponry and communication
equipment, guarding Kasab 24x7.
The ITBP team was deployed for the trial period, after
which the state government wrote to the Centre, seeking an
extension, the official said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 00:44