Mumbai attack gunman Qasab sentenced to death Mumbai gunman

**4me2** · 6th May 2010

Mumbai attack gunman Qasab sentenced to death

Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab opened fire on commuters

The only gunman to survive the 2008 attacks in Mumbai (Bombay) has been sentenced to death by a court in India.

Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, a Pakistani citizen aged 22, was found guilty on Monday of many charges, including murder and waging war on India.
Sentencing Qasab, the judge said "he should be hanged by the neck until he is dead". He has the right to appeal.
The attacks left 174 people dead, nine of them gunmen. Relations between India and Pakistan have still to recover.
India blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attack.
After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the attacks had been partially planned on its territory and that Qasab was one of its citizens.

'Cruelty incarnate'

Judge ML Tahaliyani said he had awarded the death penalty because there was no chance Qasab could be rehabilitated, adding that he had lost his right to "humanitarian treatment".
The BBC's Prachi Pinglay in the courtroom in Mumbai says that Qasab shook his head when asked if he wanted to make a statement. He was later seen wiping his face and talking to a policeman.
Prosecuter Ujjwal Nikam appeared in front of the court smiling and giving the victory sign.
"I'm very happy with the judgement. I have been successful in my attempt to put a balm on the wounds of the victims," he said.
During the trial Qasab had been branded a "killing machine" and "cruelty incarnate" by the prosecution.
Qasab's lawyer had called for leniency, saying his client had been brainwashed by a terrorist organisation and could be rehabilitated.
In India the death penalty is carried out by hanging, but it is rarely used and most death sentences are commuted to life imprisonment.
The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says that if Qasab decides to appeal, the process could take years in the courts.
Our correspondent says that Qasab could in the last resort appeal to the president for clemency - which would take even more time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8664179.stm