Kasab's sentencing on May 6 -Governance Now

Kasab's sentencing on May 6

Sentencing deferred to Thursday even as prosecution calls for a death sentence

PTI | May 4, 2010

The closure to Ajmal Kasab's trial for 'waging war against the Indian state' has been deferred to Thursday (May 6).

Special judge M L Tahaliyani reserved his judgement for Thursday after public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and defence counsel K P Pawar wrapped up their arguments on the quantum of sentence to 22-year-old Kasab, who was held guilty of mass murder and waging war against the nation yesterday.

"Such a monster should be given death penalty...He is an agent of devil himself. If Kasab is given lesser punishment, India will become a soft target for every self-styled terror group," Nikam said in his arguments over quantum of sentence.

Nikam described the killing of 166 people in the terror strikes as a rarest of the rare case fit for awarding death to the convict.

"There has been a high degree of cruelty and Kasab had total disregard for life. Kasab is a killing machine and such machines are manufactured in Pakistan," Nikam told the court.

Nikam said, "Kasab has lost every right to live. He was not happy after killing 72 persons and wanted to kill more."

He said Kasab was in a joyous mood after seeing people dying in pain and agony after opening indiscriminate fire at the bustling Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and elsewhere on November 26, 2008.

"There was no remorse and he said in his confession before the magistrate that he wanted to inspire future 'fidayeens' (suicide killers).

The Special Court in Mumbai had on Monday found Kasab guilty of murder, conspiracy and waging a war against the Indian state. The sentencing, with both the defence and prosecution, bargaining for the quantum of punishment had earlier been scheduled for Tuesday. Even as the sentencing was being deferred, the prosecution has asked for a death penalty for Kasab.

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