Saviour railway announcer hails Ajmal Kasab's conviction

"I welcome the judgment convicting Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 case," said central railway announcer Vishnu Zende, who had witnessed the Pakistani gunman's terror act from close quarters and alerted commuters to flee from the CST railway station.

"Kasab had killed so many people. He got punishment for his heinous acts and wrong deeds. I am looking forward to tomorrow when the quantum of punishment would be decided," Zende told PTI.

He was reacting to the court's verdict which hailed him as one of the strong eye witnesses whose testimony helped in establishing the guilt of Kasab.

Zende had saved several lives by asking commuters through the public address system to leave CST station from the rear exit on the fateful night of November 26 2008.

While delivering the verdict, judge ML Tahaliyani said he had accepted the testimony of 30 eyewitnesses including Zende and 11-year-old Devika Rotawan.

"I still remember the terror faces...Kasab and his aide (Abu Ismail) were walking inside the station brandishing fire arms," said Zende, a resident of Nalasopara in neighbouring Thane district.

On that night, Kasab and Ismail barged into the CST station, one of the busiest railway stations in India, and indiscriminately fired at people killing over 50 people.

"It feels good to hear that because of me some lives were saved. But at the same time I feel bad that I could not save the lives of those who fell to Kasab's bullets and explosives," said Zende, who was conferred Rs10 lakh reward by the Railway ministry for his bravery.

"At around 9.50pm on the fateful night, I heard sound of explosives and bullets from the hall on the main line section following which I alerted Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police, who rushed to spot," he recalled.

"Minutes after that I saw people running helter skelter with blood stains on them. Without waiting for a minute, I announced asking the people to move out of the station hurriedly," Zende said at his office at CST from where all seven suburban train platforms can be viewed.

"However, I did not use the word 'terrorists' during announcement as it would have caused panic at station and might have led to another disaster or stampede. For over 30 minutes, I continuously urged people to leave the station from the rear side exit," he said.

"I was completely terrified. I could not sleep whole night. I got a reliever at 7.30 am the next day when I left for home," Zende said demanding a harsh punishment for Kasab.