I am not sure whether you have read a news report appeared in one of the inner pages of a national daily on Raksha Bandhan Day (Rakhi) symbolizing the bond of sanctity between brother and sister by tying a sacred thread around each other’s wrists. On this auspicious day Muhammad Ajmal Kasab, one of the surviving assassins of 26/11 Mumbai carnage in the course of his trial in a special court in Mumbai was reported to have expressed his ‘desire’ to tie ‘Rakhi’ around the wrists of those present in the court to everybody’s amazement and anger. On reading the news item I recalled the reported story of a girl-child who in the course of the identification parade identified him to her shudder and fear the face of the surviving assassin in the 26/11 Mumbai carnage. Kasab and his accomplice Abu Ismail who maimed her were the murderous assassins who sprayed bullets indiscriminately on the innocent commuters rushing to catch the local trains to their residence at the Chathrapathi Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus) in the late hours after a day’s tiresome work. About 54 of the commuters were killed and more than hundred maimed. Meanwhile the renowned landmarks of Mumbai-Taj Intercontinental, Oberoi-Trident hotels and Leopold restaurant - one frequented mostly by the foreign tourists- all turned into virtual pools of blood by the other colleagues of Kasab , killing more than hundred bringing the throbbing vibrant commercial capital to a horror world. On their way back from Chathrapathi Shivaji Terminus, Madam Cama Hospital also was targeted by Kasab and his accomplice killing hapless patients, hospital staffs and their relatives. These cold-blooded terrorists held Mumbai to ransom from 26/11 to 29/11 (four days) and after fierce clashes- planned and executed by our security personnel murdered eight of the terrorists and Kasab was caught alive leading to a break through during his trial proceedings by police.
While the trial proceeding was going on in the Arthur Road Jail premises before the Honorable Justice Tahaliyani in the presence of all in the court room, about one-two months ago whether on due to guilty conscious thus transforming into a chastened man on a sudden impulse after a brief talk with his lawyer Abbas Kazmi, he confessed to his crime and submitted before the Honorable Justice and appealed to him to award him maximum punishment.
Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam suddenly intervened and appealed to the Honorable Judge his decision to go on with the proceedings and no to allow Kasab’s plea. His submission was promptly granted and Kasab’s confession to the crime was, however, put on record. Actually what prompted Kasab to his appeal midway? Whether this man is really sincere in his admission of guilt?
It was reported in the media of his confession to the gruesome murders was made soon after the news of Pakistan’s admission of Kasab’s Pakistan citizenship. If that be the case, how he got to know the news report? The whole matter still remains in a fluid state.
For argument’s sake assume he is really sincere of his crime.
Then why he is insistent on awarding capital punishment to himself before the completion of trial proceedings? In history there are umpteen instances of historical figures after convinced of their cruel deeds undergoing mental transformation engaging in penance for the rest of their lives. Also certain characters in classics like Raskolnikov in ‘Crime and Punishment’ by Dostovesky Jean-Val-Jean of his ‘Les Miserables’ of Victor Hugo and similar characters.
India is a secular democratic country. A summary trial followed by a quick verdict and its execution, probably a mind- boggling one implemented in front of a wider public is a characteristic of Islamic law in an Islamic nation. Whether it is right or wrong is anybody’s guess. In a democratic nation like India many a legal hurdle has to be crossed to reach a final verdict. Its implementation, for instance, a verdict in a lower court pronouncing the respondent guilty and vice-versa, can be challenged in superial courts and if it be upheld by the Supreme Court the respondent can rightly file a mercy petition before the President and he/she has to refer it to the Law ministry seeking opinion. Only after the President gives the nod to execute the verdict can the next step be taken and it may take months if not years. Kasab must have been aware of this factor. Whether this factor also led to his confession to the crime may be or may be not to emerge a chastened to escape severe punishment.
If Muhammad Ajmal Kasab, the surviving assassin of 26/11 Mumbai carnage is sincere in his confession to his crime, what must be expected of him is to patiently wait for the law to take its course and to accept the verdict regardless of how long it will take.
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