Terrorists who stormed the Taj hotel were Indians: Ajmal

Continuing his flip-flop, Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab today told a special court trying the 26/11 attacks case that all the four terrorists who stormed Taj hotel were Indians.

Ajmal, whose statement is being recorded by the court on evidences adduced by the prosecution, told special judge ML Tahaliyani that while one of the terrorists of the Taj hotel siege was a Kashmiri, another was from Gujarat.

Kasab claimed the third terrorist at Taj was Abu Ismail from Mumbai. According to prosecution, Ismail was gunned down at Girgaum Chowpatty by the police in an encounter when he along with Kasab was trying to escape. He, however, did not elaborate on the identity of the fourth terrorist at the Taj.

The Pakistani terrorist has been making conflicting statements in the court.

While at one point Kasab confessed to his guilt and admitted having shot people at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus along with Abu Ismail before being captured at Girgaum Chowpatty, he later denied any involvement in the terror strikes.     

Ajmal's claim came when Judge Tahaliyani wanted to know if he had anything to say about the slain terrorists who had been identified by eyewitnesses.

When the Judge asked how he knew that Abu Ismail was from Mumbai, Kasab said,"I can make out from his face". To this Tahaliyani asked in a light-hearted manner "Did he look like a Marathi manoos?"

After having initially confessed to his guilt, Kasab had recently denied involvement and told the court that he had come to India from Pakistan by Samjhauta Express several days before the 26/11 carnage and was picked up from Girgaum Chowpatty by police a day before the terror attacks.

Later, speaking to reporters outside the court, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam described Kasab's claim as "absurd and concocted".

"Kasab's claim is absurd and concocted. He has been taking frequent U-turns and this is one of those. This will in no way weaken the prosecution's case against him," Nikam said.