Mumbai attacks: India hangs Ajmal Kasab
Pakistan-born Mohammed Kasab was hanged at Yerwada jail in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his pleas for mercy earlier this month.
"Kasab was transferred to Yerwada jail two days ago. He was hanged at 7:30 this morning (0200 GMT)," Maharashtra home minister RR Patil announced to reporters in Mumbai.
"His execution is a fitting tribute to the victims of Mumbai attacks."
The 25-year-old Kasab was one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to the city in attacks that began on November 26, 2008, and lasted nearly three days. It was the deadliest militant onslaught on Indian soil since independence.
He was sentenced to death in May 2010 after he was found guilty of a string of charges, including waging war against India, murder and terrorist acts.
Federal home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that the Indian government had informed its counterparts in Pakistan of Kasab's execution.
"The external affairs ministry has informed the Pakistan government about the execution," he told reporters in New Delhi.
It was not immediately clear whether the communication came before or after the execution.
The minister said that India was prepared to hand over the gunman's body to Pakistani authorities but it had received no such request so far.
"If someone demands the body, we give the body. No demand was made," he added.
During the attacks, heavily-armed gunmen stormed targets in Mumbai including luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a hospital and a bustling train station.
Devika Rotwan, now 13, who was shot in the leg when Kasab and his colleague Ismail Khan opened fire at the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus on the first night of the attacks, said she was pleased to hear about the execution.
"I am very happy that Kasab has been hanged. I had always felt and said that it should have happened earlier, but it is good," Rotwan, who gave evidence at Kasab's trial, told AFP.
"I was playing in the morning and heard about the news when I saw the television," the schoolgirl added.
"The government has done something good at last."
India blames the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant organisation for training, equipping and financing the gunmen with support from "elements" in the Pakistani military.
Pakistan has admitted that the attacks were planned partly on its soil, but denies any official involvement. It charged seven alleged plotters behind the attacks in 2009 but has insisted more evidence is needed to convict them.
Kasab initially pleaded not guilty at his trial but later confessed, admitting he was one of the gunmen sent by the LeT.
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.
When his trial began in 2009, Kasab at first appeared relaxed, joking or smiling at lawyers and reporters.
But he seemed increasingly sullen, withdrawn and even asleep as the trial progressed, prompting fears for his mental state. He showed no emotion in the dock when the verdict was handed down.
Kasab appealed in the Supreme Court, claiming he did not receive a fair trial but his petition was struck down in August.
India has executed just one person in 15 years – a former security guard hanged in 2004 for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.
Prisoners can often languish for years on death row but there had been a huge clamour for Kasab's execution.
During his appeal, Kasab argued that he was denied proper legal representation and that some charges against him were not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
"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."
Pakistan’s stance
The Foreign Office of Pakistan maintained that the country’s stance on terrorism has been very clear and consistent and Pakistan has always condemned terrorisms in all its forms.
“We are willing to cooperate and work closely with all countries of the region to eliminate scourge of terrorism,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Moazzam Ali Khan on Wednesday.
The spokesperson clarified that reports in Indian press stating that Pakistan did not receive a note from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad were incorrect and baseless. He said that the deputy high commissioner of Indian Embassy visited the Foreign Office on Tuesday evening with a note regarding the execution of Kasab.
Director General South Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the note and acknowledged the receipt, he added.
According to Express News, the Foreign Office has also said that India will be contacted if Kasab’s family demands for his body.
COMMENTS (131)
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He was a petty criminal in Lahore before that. A fine example of bottom of the barrel scum. He died too comfortably.
Is India blind to see 1 lac Kashmirs, who martyred by their cruel army?
Pakistan should hang sarbjeet singh and demand jusice for innocent people killed in Sumjhota express...!
Last word of Kasab was “Allah kasam aisi galati dobara nahi hogi, Allah muze maaf kare”, it means he was feeling very much guilty for killing the innocent people (including some muslims) by the name of state. Other terrorists should learn something from last word of their hero “Kasab”.
@Ajamal:Shame on Pakistan – not a single terrorist hanged!! This is only because the terrorists are released from the courts only due to the shortage and lack of the evidences and in Pakistan eyewitnesses don't appear in the courts to say any thing against the terrorists just due to their lives' risks because in Pakistan there are no any rules to protect the eyewitnesses' lives....
@PakistanUnited: What about Pakistanis who killed 3 million people in Bangladesh/East Pakistan?
Kasab laid down his life by perpetrating crime as a pawn in the hands of sinister masterminds so that his family could get regular income from these agencies. It is sad to see how poverty forces young men to make the ultimate sacrifice such that their families get a better tomorrow. Pakistan needs to rethink its strategy on job creation such that there are alternative means of income available for these unguided souls.
Justice done or not. Well for those who lost their close ones in Mumbai violence and for many Indians and people all over the world, Kasab's hanging might be justified. Im an Indian and when I saw the bloodshed in 2008, even I wanted him to be hanged. But while today reading the background of his family, his upbringing and the fact that he was just in his early 20's when he committed the terrorist act, makes me think that the real reason behind all this was poverty and his exploitation by the so called trainers. I read somewhere that he was promised 1 lac rupees to do the job. He and his family must have been extremely poor that he agreed to do risk his life at such a young age for such a petty amount, and for whom, his family, his younger sister and brother. Human beings are not animals but circumstances force them to behave like one. If people have jobs, a decent income to make their basic necessities meet, no one will take such a route. Kasab was perhaps too young to understand the route he took...and unfortunately there was no turning back for him...I feel it was only his family condition which forced him to take the gun. Like any other guy, if he had resources for education, or even to take up a vocational course and get into a job, he wouldn't have taken this route. For that matter, no one would. People play politics with human mind. They forget that they also have to answer the god one day. Somehow, I am not sure how I'm feeling today, but am not happy to hear too much about kasab's hanging and feel sorry for the poor guy and his family.
@roadkashehzada:
Where is the case open? In Pakistan?
Vienna,November21,2012 The man behind him, declared in Pakistan as " proclaimed Offender", was in New Delhi preparing the noose so that it slips smooth and fast.So for whose soul should we pray the Lal Masijid attacker or a poor kid named Ajmal Kasab ? Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
Good job india.
@Born Political: Unlike Pakistanis,No Indian is denying that Samjauta Express was carried out by Hindu extremist and in fact,we are happy that he's caught so that no other Hindu would do such thing with confidence that Indian govt will blame on Pakistan
Regarding Gujarat,Read any neutral source,they all will say it started when a group of muslim extremists burned a train containing Hindu pilgrims and the Hindus in the nearby areas started rioting..... I know the retaliation was wrong,but if u see that Muslims have rioted over a movie,then how can u guarrentee that Hindus of those area would have been peaceful when they saw people burnt just because they were Hindu After the riot started,17000 Hindus and 7,000 muslims were pre-emplty arrested to minimize loss and the army was brought in the 3rd day... I dont know how Modi could be responsible for that,if thats the case,the CM of Sindh should have been hanged multiple times for the violence in Karachi.....
Silenced ....
... the key that could lead to Conspirators of Hemant Karkare's murder ... thrown away ...
Kasab initially pleaded not guilty at his trial but later confessed, admitting he was one of the gunmen sent by the LeT.
He was pressurised,they used third method against him,new tools were adopted for confessing that LeT was involved in attack.
At last he confessed,the statement investigator recored was not clear-cut and according to law,vide the definition of confession in the Indian Penal Cod.
Confession in the police custody is not acceptable,it creats doubt regarding the involvement of LeT in the attack and benefit of doubt not goes to the prosecution side.
1."You call them Pakistani, you declare them Muslim and then you hang them!" 2. "now where are human rights????….. when pak hang his solider then France and Indian condemned… what about kasab.. there was no fair trial…. all are corrupted================= May Khuda Bless his Soul<><><> Amin" These two messages and most of the messages on board indicate that most of the people of Pakistan do not think that Kasab did any thing wrong. I wonder how and when the psyche of majority of people of Pakistan has become so much pro terrorism. When are they going to realize that a terrorist and a Jehadi is not one and the same. Killing innocent people whether in India or Pakistan is certainly not Jehad. Blind meaning less Hatred is just not letting them see the truth and the pitfalls.
@Ahmad: "We need to get past misguided nationalism and call a spade a spade." You will be mighty glad you did. Truth shall set you free!
@pakistanunited. I fully agree with you. Why we have not done kasab-like justice to terrorist and mass murderer surbajit singh.
@ all those praying for ajmal kasab.......................had you people said all these prayers for your only nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam ( today is his birth anniversay), you would not have been living a lie.
I hope this will bring some closure to the families of the victims. Not to mimic the biased Indians' comments, but yes, he was a tool.. the people who masterminded the whole attack need to be punished. We need to get past misguided nationalism and call a spade a spade. People who perpetrate such crimes against humanity are enemies of Islam, not its soldiers.
Kasab is neither a Pakistani nor a Indian ; He is a beast and enemy number one of human beings on earth.
With this development Shadman Chownk shall be renamed to Shaheed Ajmal Amir Kasab Chowk.
I am pretty dam sure I will get plenty of support for this notion. :)
Where is the dead body? Did anyone actually see his dead body? I'm not conspiracy theorist, but what's the evidence that he has been hanged to death? ?
what does india gain by hanging him 4 years after 26/11 and after 2 years after the sentence? congress is just trying to get some hindu votes to compensate the muslim votes which it failed to secure even after so many tricks.
Justice done and more importantly, seen to have been done.
why all this secrecy in executing him? It only increases the doubts that this was a play directed by indian agencies. was the man in jail really Kasab? was the man really executed? No one even saw his dead body...was this name Kasab really of that terrorist who killed people or was it an agent of Raw given this name and false identity?...so many questions remain unanswered..
@waqas: "As a pakistani, who lost relatives due to bomb blasts, I would say he deserved this! No one understands the pain of mumbai victims families as much as I do! and those who opposed this punishment, u should wonder urself, would u forgive a murderer who killed your family?"
i sincerely hope that you will find peace in your life, may Allah give you all the strength to over come your difficulties. i wish you and your family all the happiness.
an Indian friend!
The guilty should be punished, but isn't it hypocritical of the secularists and the liberals who are happy at the death penalty but are usually speaking against capital punishment?
ET its not a headline, the guy was not a hero but a terrorist, who brought shame to Pakistan. He deserved this punishment a long ago, india just given more time as it was good to raise this issue in press again and again!
now where are human rights????..... when pak hang his solider then France and Indian condemned... what about kasab.. there was no fair trial.... all are corrupted================= May Khuda Bless his Soul<><><> Amin
well why is pakistani side silent on samjhuta express I think their ex-general was involved in it but you guys never asked them back whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy???????
@Rana: Only after he was proved to have killed Pakistanis and not just for spying for India. But then again can Pakistan show such legal procedural maturity as India has shown. Is Pakistan capable of this? Pakistan is still refusing to accept that Kasab and others who were killed on 26/11/2008 were its citizens and are still hiding military and others involved on this dastardly act.
Some tell Hafiz Saeed we will get him too. Sooner or later, we will get him. And @usman786, no, there wont be any EU repercussion for this hanging. Why? See, that's the difference between India and Pakistan. You guys just don't get it. You are not in the same league.
Being a pakistani... I support this because he has clearly executed innocent people and Allah will not forgive him for his sins....
@Javed: You are not a true Muslim if you believe that a person who guns down innocents as an innocent and a scapegoat. Who was behind him and how was he a scapegot? You are not fit to be called a human.
He talked/looked like indians . He was no way a pakistani.
@sensible: "there should be zero tolerance for terrorists from both sides." finally, a sane voice. The Indian army has the same motto when dealing with terrorists: no mercy !!
Justice Served ! Its a moment where Pakistan and Indians should stop for a moment and reflect as to what all this hate given to the people in last 60 + years.....I think only misery and sorrow!
"“His execution is a fitting tribute to the victims of Mumbai attacks.” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Indian Ministers statement aimed at winning popularity. The families of the victims of the Mumbai attacks know very well the futility of bloodshed. His execution is merely meeting out of legal process re Mumbai attacks.”
Well-done any body involved in terrorism should have the same sentence and should be hanged till death.
@Caramelized_Onion: "Few lessons to learn here for Pakistan’s budding democracy:" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistan’s budding democracy does not believe in lessons.
How Pakistani society helped to mould Kasab as an anti Indian Terrorist ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Some day that story will unfold. In the meanwhile lets all pray for the salvation of his soul. The death of every human being diminishes humanity.
Shame on Pakistan - not a single terrorist hanged!!
@Usman786: "Will Indian suffer the same EU restrictions which were imposed on Pak after soldier’s hanging" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistan was granted favorable trading terms as a measure of assistance against the floods in Pakistan.Since India does not enjoy any such measures the question of EU restrictions does not arise. I am sorry if that disappoints you.
Justice served!!! I am a Pakistani but i feel it is the right thing to do.
@1984, Similarly hafiz saeed was tried in Pakistani courts and he has been set free. Courts in this part of world are not that credible. If indian extremists did not carry out samjhota express and Gujrat riots, who were they?
@Indian Muslim: Sad Day ? Are you insane or what ? He killed 166 innocent people and you are saying should a fair trial ? he ate lods of biryani jail...and what you want.
Only fools celebrate a human death
He was innocent, he has been used and the drivers take side when he went into trouble a sad day.
Pakistan would be better off if it could hang similar mentally deranged killers roaming the streets of Karachi and the rest of it. Our judicial system is scared and ineffective, and ordinary citizens are left at the mercy of common thugs. We have become so numb and surreal that we try to find conspiracy even in the simplest of things. Kasab was filmed and documented, what more is required to convict him, yet there is an audience who will have the gall to say he was innocent.
If we overcome this attitude, we can start to fix Pakistan's fundamental problem with enforcing the rule of law.
What about sarabjit and samjhauta blast will pak take a leaf out of India
@Indian Muslim. Fair trail? I can understand why are you asking that.
@Ali:
Pak Govt refused to accept the body. So he is buried in the jail where he was hanged.
@Punjabi: Pak Govt refused to accept the body. So he is buried in the jail where he was hanged.
where is HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
So Sad ! Pakistans Ghazi and inspiration to many Paksitanis is no more !
Rest in Peace May Allah give you jannat
@mr. righty rightist: yes everything in this world is conspiracy,everyone is out to get u muslims becoz they dont have better things to do or worry about....get real dude...the world is not run on conspiracy theories but facts.
@Ali and you will never see his dead body :-) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx So its more like Osama now, Is Kasab is still alive somewhere enjoying Indian hospitality?
You call them Pakistani, you declare them Muslim and then you hang them!
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said that the Indian government tried to reach to the family members of Mumbai terror attack accused Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged this morning in Pune's Yerwada jail. He also said that Kasab has been buried in the Yerwada jail premises itself.
http://rtilive.pk/detail/6741
Right to Information Pakistan Live, RTI Live, Information Pakistan, RTI online Research ORganization, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan, Indian government , Ajmal Kasab, Pune's Yerwada jail, Sushil Kumar Shinde , 2008 Mumbai terror attacks
death penalty must be abolished. it is murder by the society of a man.
Life lost for nothing !!!
Good riddance
We want Surbjeet Singh to be hang as soon as possible...
As a pakistani, who lost relatives due to bomb blasts, I would say he deserved this! No one understands the pain of mumbai victims families as much as I do! and those who opposed this punishment, u should wonder urself, would u forgive a murderer who killed your family?
@Paco Osuna: "Where are all the secular Indians who were so sympathetic for a recently hanged Pakistani person?"
This has nothing to do with religion, so please do not bring secularism into this discussion.
Diwali was on 13 nov....but humanity will celebrate it again today. Happy diwali.....kasab's death is a victory of good over evil.
@Javed: shame on you praying for a man caught red-handed killing innocent people. Scapegoat or not, conspiracy theory or not!
Bad decision by Indian Govt. He must be punished by Life imprisonment. Our Government should take a lesson from these people and never release any of their nationals who are in our custody on FRIENDLY basis.
RIP Mumbai terrorist attack victims of 26/11.
Good riddance. Time to get rid of Sarabjit the terrorist as well
How can this (to hang one person) be a just punishment; if the charge was 'killing of 166 people'.
Surbjeet Singh to be hanged next..... whats we waiting for......shame on Pakistani corrupt leadership.......
Last witness to Mumbai false flag op killed. Dead men tell no tales.
Prayers for Hemant Karkare and his family.
good. now let us cremate his body- so that no body else will take up terrorism.
There were news of withdrawl of some relaxations given to pakistan trade from EU because of the capital punishment in pakistan last week. any comments from EU on india? also, while the case of mumbai attack is still open, why indian government killed the only living witness against alleged guys in pakistan. now ll indian witnesses are indian employees.
Few lessons to learn here for Pakistan's budding democracy:
. 1) Indians did not waste time passing tough anti-terror laws. Our parliament passes laws/bills left, right and centre to protect Gillanis and Zardari but our anti-terror law revision is gathering dust. Recently a seniour army rangers official asked the sindh government on the delay and was told that most politicians are afraid they might fall victim to the same law if passed. That is the quality of our elected representatives. .
2) Indians milked Kasab for what he was worth, parading him in front of media and asking and bullying Pakistan for favours in return before finally executing him (something they could have done last year). Indian defence circles claimed Kasab's capture as a 'golden opportunity' and said 'we haven't had Pakistan cornered like this since '71.
. Now, my dear Nubulent Liberatis, go back to the library and read democracy 101 and defence strategy 101 before commenting on your own Army. . . .To the inevitable Indian trolling about to begin on this story, 'Thank You, (don't) come again'
Sarabjit Singh should be next
Same should be done with those responsible for the Samjhauta Express attack that killed 68 Pakistani nationals.
Lets equalize the scores and hang Sarbjit Singh!!
History is made and the name of Pakistan will remain forever in good books of History.
Whosoever kills innocent non-combatant people must be hanged irrespective of whether he is a Pakistani, Indian, Israeli or a Palestinian.
Will India hand over his body to Pakistan and will Pakistan take his body ?
We must improve relationship with India trust deficit removed will make a new successful relationship which imran khan is talking about please don't vote to noora league imran Pakistan pti zindabad
“His execution is a fitting tribute to the victims of Mumbai attacks,” Patil added at a news conference.
Would Mumbai Victims want a tribute of this kind ? Ajmal was at best a brainwashed person, who paid dearly with his life - while those who sent him to India roam free.
Justice finally served let's see what Pakistan does with Surbajeet Singh.
Pakistan should learn a valuable lesson from India. I do not remember Pakistan handing down a death sentence to a violent terrorist, and we have many. Obviously Pakistan has seen much more terrorist attacks than India, but no one was given what they deserve.
Great News, all terrorists must be hanged because taking the lives of innocent people is not the right thing, and goes against all religions teachings. Now only Pakistan government would do the same with taliban terrorists who are openly terrorizing and killing innocent pakistani civilians. Good Riddance
was this a deliberate move by the government to calm down the millions who are opposing the India-Pakistan cricket match. In any case,this is not the end, we will not change our stand nor our demands.
Will Indian suffer the same EU restrictions which were imposed on Pak after soldier's hanging
Justice served? Apparently yes but only time will tell.
I wonder why Pakistani government is delaying in executing Sarabjit Singh who was given death sentence by Pakistani court in 1991, but till today his hanging is repeatedly being postponed. He was convicted for his involvement in 1990 serial bomb blasts in Lahore and Faisalabad that killed scores of innocent people.
Nice! if it ever happens with the terrorists in Pakistan......who are granted bails.
Bollywood directors should make a film on Kasab.
used cartoos .. next time write better script India.
Sad day. Why no fair trial for him?
Good, now hang the other Indian agent/terrorist who's in Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore and is a convicted terrorist.
"India has executed just one person in 15 years – a former security guard hanged in 2004 for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl."
Says much about the woeful system of Indian courts.
the clock is ticking for others
Yes Nawaz Sharif, confirmed that Ajmal Kasab is from Pakistan-
Read this +'"Challenging President Asif Ali Zardari’s assertion that there was no proof that the arrested Mumbai attacker hailed from Pakistan’s Punjab province, former premier Nawaz Sharif has said that the suspect’s village was cordoned off and his parents were not allowed to meet anyone.
“I have checked myself. His (Ajmal Amir Iman alias Ajmal Kasab) house and village has been cordoned off by the security agencies. His parents are not allowed to meet anybody. I don’t undertand why it has been done,” Shraif, who hails from Punjab, said in an interview to ‘Geo News’ channel.
“The people and media should be allowed to meet Iman’s parents so that the truth could come out in the open,” he said, adding that “We need some kind of introspection.”
In his interview on Kamran Khan Kay Sath, Nawaz Sharif stated that Pakistan was becoming ‘a failed state’
What about a proper Jenazah prayer and burial?
A killer of innocent human being__ he deserved this or perhaps more than this...
Killing innocent people is not allowed in Islam. He deserved what he got. May Allah Forgive His Sins!
and you will never see his dead body :-)
Now,few "patriotic" Pakistanis will comment about Narendra Modi,Col,Purohit....
Remember,Narendra Modi was tried in many courts and was not found guilty
Col.Purohit was caught by Indian Intelligence and was duly punished,ignoring his religion and army background.....
But the rage in Indians will not rest till the mastermind of this attack is tried and hanged.....
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Wish we did the same here to every terrorist caught.
justice serve...a criminal met his fate....i hope sarabjit singh gets to the gallows for his killing spree
I hope people don't try to make a 'hero' out of him! He was a murderer; he got what he deserved. Simple!
It's satisfying in a way, but to think of it as a 'tribute' to the victims seems like blood lust.
Capital punishment is always fraught with moral dilemmas, and though solely for the purpose of vengeance (and saving taxpayers' money) hanging seems like a good thing, it's still the death of a person who was ultimately brainwashed and tricked by misinformation into the crimes he did, and not because he was an evil, bloodthirsty monster (like the Colorado shooter, or Breivik).
Good for India, wish we can send some for our corrupt politicians to India also, may be we will see some justice in our lifetime.
YAWWWWWWNN...who cares...no offense..but he was an indian anyway...legit! So next cover page plz.
"Pakistan has admitted that the attacks were planned partly on its soil, " ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ but is silent on the fact that Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national.
RIP....his body should be handed over to his parents for last rituals...
Ok, lets see when his body is sent to pakistan, who receives it and where he get burried.
It's a RAW conspiracy to eliminate all evidences pertaining to Mumbai inside job attacks, which was staged only to kill Karkare by the rightwing BJP to cower up their involvement in Samjhauta Express bombing.
Let’s hang Sarabjit Singh now!!
Good riddance, thank you India.
Yet another innocent soul guillotined, a scapeoat if ever there was one. My many prayers for Ajmal Kasab...
Justice served! now its high time that Pak also hang sarabjeet singh! there should be zero tolerance for terrorists from both sides.
Where are all the secular Indians who were so sympathetic for a recently hanged Pakistani person?
Not a day too soon.