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Mumbai, Sep 18 (PTI)
On death row for the brazen Mumbai terror attacks, its lone surviving perpetrator Ajmal Kasab has filed a mercy petition before President Pranab Mukherjee, a fortnight after losing his legal battle for life in the Supreme Court.
The nearly four-year legal battle launched by Kasab had ended on August 29 when the Supreme Court upheld his conviction and death sentence in the 26/11 attacks case, saying he killed without “the slightest twinge of conscience”.
“We have sent a mercy petition to the President filed by Kasab,” a senior official at the high-security Arthur Road Jail where Kasab is lodged, said, without divulging when was the petition forwarded to the President.
The 25-year-old LeT operative had been given a certified copy of the Supreme Court verdict confirming his death sentence last week.
“Kasab was given certified copy of his death sentence confirmation verdict three days ago. One copy was given to him and the other was sent to the Supreme Court with his signature,” an official of the Arthur Road Jail had said.
Asked if the Pakistani gunman, lodged in the bomb and bullet-proof egg-shaped cell, had been explained options before him, including moving a mercy plea, the official said Kasab was told about all procedures and rights he has as a convict, including moving a mercy petition.
166 people, including foreigners and policemen, were killed when Kasab and his nine accomplices let loose an orgy of violence at various Mumbai's landmarks including Hotel Taj and CST railway terminus on November 26, 2008.
While all other Pakistani terrorists perished in the counter-offensive launched by security forces, Kasab was captured alive.
According to a reply received under RTI, as many as 11 mercy petitions of death row convicts are pending before President Pranab Mukherjee.
While only the file related to Balwant Singh Rajoana, killer of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, is with the Home Ministry, 11 cases including that of Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru are with Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The reply provided to activist Subhash Agrawal shows that Home Ministry had recalled 26 mercy petition from Rashtrapati Bhavan during 2009-12 to review its advice.
After the files were resubmitted, the then President Pratibha Patil had decided 18 cases. The remaining eight cases are still with the President's office.
The reply shows three mercy petitions, including that of Afzal Guru, have been submitted before the President for decision.
I am very happy with the Kasab hang decision. The man who killed so many innocent lives with no reason. I wished other man who were involved in 26/11 get the same punishment. But a questions in mind:- WHY 4 YEARS for the punishment?
I know president pranab mukharjee is good man he take right decision in favour of Terrorist Ajmal Kasab.
I think president should forgive him and to show pakistan we are Indian we don't like to kill any human being like you.
If a person considered his mistake and ask for mercy it is better to forgive him in first chances within condition*
I am afraid Congress which plays Muslim vote bank politics will pardon Kasab and give a life sentence for someone to release him later. We the people should draw up a petition asking that he be hanged forthwith and not allowed to keep on delaying it. Already India has spent crores on him and we should not waste any more funds on this inhumane person.
Dear President of India. Do remember in your mind no mercy for Pakistan Terrorists. Pakistani never accept Indian who predominantly are Hindus as a human being, they Pakistani always think Indian as stupid animal. That's why they always carry numerous attacks on the Indian soil. They have forgotten that their forefathers are Hindustani Hindus before the appearance of Islam religion to be accurately from the year AD 613. That's the first year in the history of this planet eart where Islam being openly preached to their listener and follower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia by Islamic preacher prophet Muhammad. Long before the arrival of this religion of Islam in Bharat. All these Pakistani who's mother tongue is a Punjabi are originally before the arrival of Islam in India are from the religion of Hindu. They don't remember the past history of Bharat. Therefore they are considered as traitor for their own race. There is no mercy for the traitor. They should be hanged to till death. Thank You
Everybody here wanted to kill him instantly from the day he was caught. 5 yrs have passed but he has not been hanged. If there were no oppposition, then I guess this govt. would surely have left him in his land for an exchange of some votes.
Everybody here wanted to kill him instantly from the day he was caught. 5 yrs have passed but he has not been hanged. If there were no oppposition, then I guess this govt. would surely have left him in his land for an exchange of some votes.
If Pranab Mukherjee takes more than 5 minutes to decide on this petition. It would be SHAME ON HIM. I am sure congress does not have balls to hang him. If one person who can hang him in 5 minutes after coming to power it would be Narender Modi, rest all politicians do not have guts.
@ VNS : Chaman Chu...., In mumbai attack muslims were also killed along with scores of hindus and christians. So stop this Sanghi raag. Muslim society didnt allow the terrorists to get buried in Mumbai. Never question the patriotism of muslims. Lots of muslim blood was shed along with hindu blood by the British for the independence struggle of India. They want to see him hanged as much as any hindu wud like....
Another Afzal Guru in the making. Jai Hind
No necessity to give the mercy to culprit as he may be awarded life imprionment due to the reason that he became a victim to Jehadi clique whom forced him to do terror.
This conggi stooge will take long time to consider it and start playing politics of minority appesment
One should not read too much in to this as it is part of legal process and every person has the right to ask mercy. It is up to president to give or not. The political parties should stay away from entering in to debate. Then it becomes a political issue and like his predecessors the president may opt for well tried and tested 'inaction'. Seeing the mood of the country the president should show courage and take prompt action.
IF INDIA GOVERNMENT SEES THAT THE PERSONS KILLED IN ATTACK THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE EQUAL NUMBER OF ISI AGENTS AND TERROISTS SHOULD BE HANGED IN FRONT OF TAJMAHAL HOTEL AND VT RAILWAY STATION BROADCASTING LIVE TO THE WORLD THAT THIS IS THE END OF A TERROIST
I am STRONGLY OPPOSED for the President Of India to grant him mercy!! Can I, as a Non-Resident Indian, personally appeal to the President to REJECT his appeal & send Kasab to his JANNAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? This case has PROCRASTINATED too long! Let Kasab MEET his ALLAH !! JAI HIND!!
please spare his life, Mr President. He is a muslim and muslims will not do anything criminal and even if they do commit crimes they have to be considered as just and proper and certainy not crimes. They have the right to kill Hindus, kill Policemen, hold cities to ransom and paralize the government. The Muslims are not citizens of this country and no rule of law applies to them. They are just rulers who can do anything. Please spare him and ensure the taxpayers spend crores of rupees for his upkeep. We should treat these persons as Gods.
