In a ruling on Wednesday, the Indian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence given to Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, who was convicted in May 2011 for the 2008 Mumbai bombings claiming the lives of over 166 people in 2008.
In May 2011, the Mumbai high court handed down the death sentence to Kasab, the sole surviving terrorist from the Pakistan terrorism group called Lakshar-e-Taiba, who in 2008 with a group of other young men hijacked a luxury hotel chain and held its entire inhabitants hostage. Kasab was convicted of 80 charges, including waging war against India. He was sentenced to death by hanging.
The two-judge panel which consisted of Justices Aftab Alam and CK Prasad ruled to uphold that decision. Justice Prasad said: "I am more than certain that the planning and conspiracy to commit the crime were hatched in Pakistan, the perpetrators of crime were Pakistani trained at different centres in that country, and the devastation which took place at various places in the city of Mumbai, were executed by the appellant in furtherance thereof," as reported by NDTV, a major Indian news network.
Raju Ramachandran, senior advocate, who was the attorney to the 25-year-old terrorist, acknowledged the court's decision, telling reporters, "As amicus curiae I was given full opportunity to say all that I could in his defence. Let us take pride in our judicial system which adheres to due process, whoever be the accused and whatever be the crime," also reported by NDTV.
The Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008 was a three day siege, which included hijacking of a popular luxury hotel and a Jewish religious center, as well as a shootout at a Mumbai train station. The attacks claimed the lives of as many as 166 people. The attack placed further strain on the already belligerent India-Pakistan relations. All peace talks between the two nuclear powers were suspended as a result of the attacks. The talks have since resumed.
Kasab's death warrant will ordered only after he has used his remaining four options to appeal the decision. Kasab can file an additional appeal petition, a curative, a clemency or a mercy petition. It is still unclear whether he will do so.
