Mumbai, December 27: The stand taken by Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 court that he is not a terrorist and was not involved in last year’s Mumbai terror attacks, would now become the focal point of arguments to be advanced by his lawyer shortly.
“We have to toe the line taken by the accused while giving statement to the court on evidence adduced by the prosecution,” advocate K P Pawar, defending Kasab in the case.
Asked whether he would examine defence witnesses, Pawar said he had not yet decided on this aspect although there were two to three witnesses who might be considered. Defence witnesses are those whom Kasab would like to examine to defend him in the trial.
“Kasab’s U-turn at this juncture is a calculated move on his part to mislead the court. He is following the Al-qaeda manual which harps on the theme of misleading,” Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.
In his statement to the trial court, Kasab has retracted his confession made before a Magistrate and said he had come from Pakistan not by a boat but by Samjhauta Express train.
He also denied having taken part in the November 26 terror attacks and said the “terrorist” seen in photographs and CCTV footage might be someone else looking like him.
——Agencies