First phase of Mumbai terror attacks end

MUMBAI - The first phase of the Mumbai terror attacks trial ended here Wednesday evening as the prosecution completed recording of evidence of its last two witnesses.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said that now the statement of the prime accused, Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab, shall be taken up before Special Judge M.L. Tahilyani Friday.

He also said that, if required, the court would seek details of the involvement of David Headley and T. Rana, currently in custody in the US, from the authorities there.

Earlier, defence lawyer K.P. Pawar told the court that his client Kasab was “not mentally and physically fit” to record his statement.

At this, Judge Tahilyani asked the accused whether he was not feeling well, getting food and rest or if he had any other problems. Kasab replied in the affirmative to the queries.

Nikam intervened to say that the accused was in perfectly fine condition to record his statement.

Judge Tahilyani posted the recording of Kasab’s statement for Friday.

The special public prosecutor also said that the arrests of Headley and Rana would not impact the ongoing Mumbai terror attacks case in any manner.

However, Nikam told reporters that he would soon file a letter rogatory before the special court seeking the evidences presented before the US courts in the matter.

The 26/11 trial started in April this year with the appointment of a lady lawyer Anjali Waghmare to defend Kasab.

She was disqualified and replaced by S.G. Abbas Kazmi, who was removed early this month and the defence was carried forward by his assistant Pawar.

During the course of the trial, there were several dramatic developments before the prosecution completed recording of evidence of 610 witnesses.

The Nov 26, 2008 terror attacks by 10 Pakistani nationals, including the lone captured Kasab, left 166 people dead and many more injured.

The trial is among the most keenly watched and covered both in India and abroad.