India

Hang me, says Mumbai gunman

Article published on the 2009-07-22 Latest update 2009-07-22 12:40 TU

Police give public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam (C, in black outfit) a hero's welcome after court proceedings Monday
(Photo: Reuters)

The defendant in the Mumbai attacks trial has told the judge that he would welcome the death penalty. His appeal came after he confessed to his part in the November attacks which led to the deaths of 166 people.

"Please go ahead and hang me," Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani national, told Judge ML Tahaliyani in court.

On Monday Kasab made a dramatic confession to being one of the ten gunmen who launched a series of attacks which lasted 60 hours, killing 166 and leaving more than 300 injured. The other nine gunmen all died in shoot-outs with security forces.

"Whatever I have done, I have done in this world,” said Kasab.

“It would be better that I be punished in this world. It would be better than God's punishment.

"If anyone is worried that I'm trying to escape death by hanging, I'm not. If that's the punishment, so be it."

The 21-year-old Kasab initially pleaded not guilty to 86 charges, including waging war against India and murder, which both carry the death penalty.

In his admission, Kasab told the court he had orders to take hostages at the city's main railway station, where he and an accomplice, Abu Ismail, opened fire and threw grenades, killing 52 and injuring more than 100 others.

Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam accused Kasab of trying to gain clemency through his confession.

"Very shrewdly, very cleverly Kasab has tried to save his own skin by showing he was acting as a subordinate to Abu Ismail," he said on Wednesday.

"He knows that by denying a major role, no Indian court is going to award the death penalty."

Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi rejected the prosecution claim. Judge Tahaliyani said he was "absolutely satisfied" that Kasab's statement had been made voluntarily and that he was aware of the consequences.

The hearing was adjourned until Thursday when the judge will rule on whether to accept Kasab's statement as a guilty plea or reject it and continue with the trial.