India

Trial of Mumbai attack suspect begins

Article published on the 2009-03-23 Latest update 2009-03-23 14:24 TU

Indian policemen stand guard at a police complex believed to be housing the lone surviving gunman, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab.
(Photo: Reuters)

The only person captured by police during last November's attacks in Mumbai appeared in court Monday via a video link. Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman is currently in a Mumbai jail and, together with two Indian nationals who are accused of giving him logistical support, faces a charge sheet that runs to 11,280 pages.

Iman, who is also known as Kasab, told the judge he did not have enough money to pay for a lawyer but said he would accept a court-appointed lawyer.

He also told the court that he was from Faridkot in the Punjab region of Pakistan.

Correspondent Vikram Roy said relations between India and Pakistan have improved since Pakistan's government agreed to share evidence in the investigation into the Mumbai attacks.

"But it will take a long time before India establishes any kind of concrete relations like cricketing ties, which are very important in this part of the world, and other diplomatic instruments," says Roy. "The relations remain pretty cold at the moment".

Iman, who has received anonymous death threats, did not appear in court for security reasons and the prosecution has asked for the trial to be postponed to 13 April.

This would allow a special high-security court to be set up in India's Arthur Road jail.