Mumbai attack: Black day of terror
On the night of 26 November 2008, India’s financial capital, Mumbai, was shocked when 10 terrorists of Pakistan’s terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba entered the city by sea. These terrorists reached Mumbai by boat from Karachi. These also included Ajmal Kasab, which emerged as the main face of this attack. The terrorists targeted several important places in Mumbai, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Nariman House and Leopold Cafe.
Kasab and his partner Abu Ismail started indiscriminate firing at the CST station. He had AK-47 rifles, grenades and explosives. 59 people were killed and hundreds were injured in this attack. Pictures of Kasab, in which she was seen firing at the station, was quite viral. Other terrorists held hundreds of people hostage at hotels and Nariman House, making the situation more serious.
During the attack, the Indian security forces, which included the Mumbai Police, NSG and other commandos, carried out the operation for three days. 9 terrorists were killed in this operation, but Ajmal Kasab was caught alive on Juhu Chowpatty on 27 November 2008. 166 people were killed in this attack, including 26 foreign nationals and more than 300 people were injured.
Kasab’s arrest and initial inquiry
While arresting Ajmal Kasab, Mumbai Police personnel Tukaram Ombale were martyred, who tried to catch Kasab even after being unarmed. After the arrest, Kasab interrogated many shocking revelations. He told that he is a resident of Faridkot village in Punjab province of Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Taiba gave him terrorist training. Kasab confessed his crime, but later turned back from his statement. He claimed that he was forcefully implicated.
Travel to hanging
A special court was set up in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail to prosecute Ajmal Kasab. In November 2008, he confessed to the police in front of the police and in December 2008, witnesses identified him as an attacker. In January 2009, ML Tehliyan became a special judge, and in February 2009 Ujjwal Nikam was appointed as a government lawyer. A 11,000 -page charge sheet was filed in the same month, including 86 allegations such as murder, waging war against the country and terrorism. In May 2009, charges were framed against Kasab, which he rejected. In May 2010, the special court convicted him 80 crimes, including mass murder and war against the country. Finally on 6 May 2010, the special court sentenced Kasab to death.
Subsequently, Kasab appealed against his sentence. In 2011, the Bombay High Court upheld the Special Court verdict. Then in 2012, the Supreme Court also approved the death sentence, saying that Kasab did not show any repentance and he considered himself a ‘Pakistani patriot’.
Hanged through Operation X
Kasab filed a mercy petition in front of President Pranab Mukherjee, but it was rejected by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 16 October 2012. Finally, Kasab was hanged in Yerwada Jail in Pune on 21 November 2012 at 7:30 am. This operation was named ‘Operation X’, which was completely confidential. Before hanging, Kasab asked for two tomatoes as his last wish, but only one ate. He apologized and said, “Allah swear, such a mistake will not happen again.”
Kasab’s body and Pakistan’s attitude
After the hanging, Kasab’s body was offered to hand over to Pakistan, but Pakistan refused to accept it. Subsequently, Kasab’s body was buried in the Yerwada jail premises. Pakistan initially refused to consider Kasab as its citizen, but had to accept it after India presented the evidence.
Safety and expenditure dispute
From Kasab’s arrest to hanging, about Rs 29.5 crore was spent on his safety and maintenance. This included the deployment of more than 250 ITBP personnel and other expenses for his safety in Arthur Road Jail. There was also a dispute between Maharashtra and the central government over this expenditure.