Asia-Pacific

Mumbai attacker Kasab found guilty by Indian special court

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-03 21:04

A paramilitary trooper stands guard outside Arthur Road Jail, where the trial of Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the suspected lone surviving gunman in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is being held, in Mumbai May 3, 2010. An Indian court on Monday will deliver the verdict in the Pakistani's trial, a case that has strained ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.[Photo/Agencies]

Ten terrorists sneaked into Mumbai on Nov. 26, 2008 and unleashed 60 hours of mayhem that left over 170 people dead and 244 injured.

The terrorists had targeted several sites such as the World Heritage Building of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Hotel Oberoi-Trident, Cama Hospital and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer center and Leopold Cafe, a favorite among foreigners.

However, Kasab's two Indian co-accused, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, were acquited by the special court for lack of evidence against the duo who were accused of conspiracy in the attacks and were alleged to have prepared the maps of terror targets and passed them on to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar- e-Toiba (LeT), the sources said.

Twenty absconding accused include LeT leaders Hafeez Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

India has charged Kasab, a native from a family of butcher caste of Faridkot in Pakistan, with 302 crimes, for his role in the Mumbai massacre.

The Mumbai terror attacks trial is said to be the fastest in a terror case in India, which started on May 8, 2009. The special court has also recorded more than 3,000 pages of evidence after examining the witnesses, apart from Closed Circuit TV footage of the terrorists moving about with guns and firing at people in Mumbai.

Kasab is expected to be sentenced to death by hanging, although India rarely executes death convicts.