Mumbai: The prosecution is all set to wind
up the 26/11 terror attack case in a special court here on
November 26, coinciding with the first anniversary of the
dastardly strikes that left 166 dead.
"We have examined 265 witnesses and about ten more are
left...the case would be wrapped up by November 26, a year
after the terror attacks", special public prosecutor Ujjwal
Nikam told PTI.
The evidence of another 300 witnesses would be adduced
by filing their affidavits in the court, Nikam said.
These witnesses would not be examined personally because
they are like the ones who had carried bodies of victims to
hospitals, relatives of victims who claimed the bodies, people
who suffered damage to their properties and medical officers
who treated the victims, the prosecutor said.
"The trial began on May 8 and in about six months we are
ready to wind up the case", said Nikam.
Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab is facing the trial along
with two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed. While
Kasab faces charges of multiple murders, others are charged
with conspiracy.
After prosecution closes its case, defence lawyers may
exercise their right to examine their witnesses. Then the
accused would give their statements to the court on what they
have to say about the evidence adduced against them. Finally,
the court would give verdict after hearing arguments.
With the testimony of 275 witnesses and strong
forensic evidence, prosecution has prepared a water-tight case
against Kasab, Nikam said.
Kasab is confined to a specially-built isolated cell
in the high security central prison and is guarded by a strong
posse of Indo-Tibetan Border Police round-the-clock.
Altogether 30 eyewitnesses have identified Kasab in
the identification parade in the court. Forensic experts have
also given their opinion that the DNA samples collected from
the boat--Kuber (in which terrorists landed in Mumbai),
matched with the DNA of Kasab and five other slain terrorists.
The prosecution has also screened in the court CCTV
footages of terrorists from cameras installed at Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus (CST), Times of India Building (opposite
CST), Hotel Taj and Hotel Oberoi-Trident.
Besides CCTV footages, weapons and RDX seized from
Kasab and the slain terrorists have also been placed as
evidence.The prosecution is relying upon Kasab's confession
before a Magistrate wherein he recorded the conspiracy hatched
in Pakistan to commit Mumbai terror attacks.
The prosecution is also banking on a plea made by
Kasab in the court partly accepting his guilt in the crime.
-PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 00:31