Kasab weak and weary ahead of 26/11 verdict

Mumbai: Pakistan terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab has withdrawn into a shell, has lost his 'attitude' and has not been feeling too well ahead of the Bombay High Court verdict Monday on his death sentence in the 26/11 terror attack case, his lawyer said here on Sunday.

"He appears very weak and weary, probably he is not well. He hardly communicates with anybody, and has lost his attitude for which he had become known," advocate Farhana Shah said.

Shah met him briefly at the Arthur Road Central Jail on Saturday to ensure his presence in the Bombay High Court, via video-conferencing Monday morning for the final verdict in the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks trial.

Farhana said Kasab appeared very low, demoralised and dejected.

"He wanted a newspaper, but I was not carrying one. His usual arrogance was missing. He quietly agreed when I said he must remain present before the video-cameras for the judgement," Farhana said.

This is in sharp contrast to his earlier behaviour when he displayed violent tendencies and attempted to spit at the video-camera at one of the initial hearings. Refusing to accept the death sentence, Kasab had also demanded that he should be sent to the US.

The world awaits the verdict by a division bench, comprising Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice RV More, whether or not they will confirm the death sentence awarded by the trial court Special Judge ML Tahaliyani May 2010.

However, the situation will be different this time. While last May, he was present in person to hear the death sentence, on Monday he will be present in the oval cell in the jail, but will be beamed live to the Bombay High Court.

Besides a huge posse of security personnel, both inside and outside the court premises in south Mumbai, international media is expected to remain present in huge numbers for the momentous verdict.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who fought the case from the lower court onwards, will be present from the prosecution side.

Kasab's court-appointed lawyers, Amin Solkar, Farhana Shah and Santosh Deshpande, shall also be present.

On November 26, 2008, Kasab and nine other Pakistani terrorists sneaked into south Mumbai through the Arabian Sea route and targeted various locations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway terminus, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel, Hotel Trident-Oberoi, and Nariman House which housed the Jewish Chabad House.

The 60-hour mayhem left 166 people dead, including many foreign nationals, and over 300 injured.