Ajmal breaks down in court after seeing 26/11 photos

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani gunman charged in the November 26 terrorist attacks, on Monday was seen crying and shedding tears in court, after complaining of headache and dizziness.

Additional sessions judge ML Tahaliyani, however, did not allow him to leave the court. “He (Kasab) has not shown any symptoms. He was alright in the morning. He cannot suddenly choose to be sick and ask for leave,” the judge said.

Kasab, who looked sleepy and distressed, started weeping in court, attracting the attention of co-accused Faheem Ansari who looked askance at him.

The weeping incident took place after the prosecution produced the ‘first’ images of Kasab and his slain accomplice, Abu Ismail, in action at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), shot by the photo editor of a city tabloid, Sebastian D’Souza.

“Though Kasab looked disturbed after seeing the photographs, I think he was shedding crocodile tears,” said special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

The images were given to defence counsels Abbas Kazmi and KP Pawar for inspection. Kazmi showed Kasab the 19 images which have been relied upon by the prosecution. Kasab looked puzzled when he saw the images.

The witness told the court that he was heading towards Hotel Taj Mahal but instead entered CST when he heard a “big bang”. He said that he entered the station and went towards platform 6 where he saw two policemen near the Wheeler’s book store.

“I saw two figures in backpacks who started firing near the ticket window. They were at a distance of about 100 feet. They were backlit and therefore dark figures. There was no point in taking pictures of them,” said D’Souza.

The policemen, who were standing near the Wheeler book stall, were later identified as inspector Shashikant Shinde and assistant sub-inspector Ambadas Pawar.

When one of the policemen took a shot at the terrorists, the terrorists started shooting in their direction. In the process, the store man at the Wheeler book stall died.

The witness then identified Kasab as the shorter terrorist in the courtroom. “Both had one gun each. They looked as though nobody could capture them,” he said.

Since he wanted to take their photographs, he left the book stall and entered the ladies compartment of a local train on platform six. He also warned Shinde and Pawar that they were vulnerable. “I told them to come inside the train. They were in a position where they couldn’t see them (the terrorists). They were in a dangerous position,” he said.

His warning came chillingly true. D’Souza said he took photographs of Shinde and Pawar after they were shot at and later died. He then took the pictures of Kasab from behind a pillar between platform 3 and 4.

Nikam said that the photographer’s deposition is the turning point in the case. “D’Souza had seen the entire incident and has photographs of it. The evidence is clinching,” he said.

An assistant sub-inspector, Sudam Pandharkar, who was shot at by the terrorists on his chest, was next to depose before the court. Pandharkar was with Shinde and Pawar just before they succumbed to their injuries.

Two other eyewitnesses, constable Harshad Patil and lady constable Geetanjali Purav, also deposed before the court.