Mumbai, May 03: Hours ahead of 26/11 verdict, gunman’s been belting out Bollywood hits in his cell
These days he’s been on song. Literally.
Alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Qasab has been hooked on to the song, John, Jani, Janardhan, sources at the Arthur Road jail said.
He breaks into the song from the yesteryear hit Naseeb, especially on sighting the wardens approach the gate to his cell, the sources said, adding that singing could be Qasab’s way of concealing his anxiety and venting out his apprehension before the special court delivered the verdict in his case.
Mostly, Qasab sits in his cell in a calm and composed manner, staring at the ceiling. “He knows he may get a chance to beg for mercy and that he could get a new lease of life,” a source told Media.
A warden also said that over one year, he and other members of the team have gotten used to Qasab and his ways.
“By now, he has a smattering of Marathi in his vocabulary and we will certainly miss his attempts to speak in battered Marathi,” the warden pointed out.
“He has been very cordial with the staff. He speaks to them in Marathi and hums a few other Hindi film songs in our presence,” said an insider at the jail.
Qasab also spends time reading verses from the Quran. He also leafs through copies of his chargesheet till late in the evening and has been keeping notes on the court dates.
A couple of days prior to the judgment, he had been asking two questions — whether he should beg for mercy or plead guilty, the sources said.
‘He may seek mercy’
Another warden, however, said he was fed up of the tight security cover provided to Qasab for the past one year, especially since he has to remain awake watching him constantly round the clock.
Wardens guarding Qasab have to pass through seven entry points, some of them guarded by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Passwords to gain entry to the area where Qasab has been lodged are changed every day.
“The regimen has been killing, but Qasab has conducted himself quite well after he was lodged in the special cell,” said the warden. “From the very little conversation we have had, one would think he might beg for mercy before the judge.” A Crime Branch officer, who was part of the 26/11 investigations, said Qasab is a well-trained terrorist. “He will try to delay the process of justice by making contradictory statements.”
The Crime Branch officer said Qasab is a hard nut to crack and is very curious about the developments around him. “He has collected information from people protecting him about what has been happening in the city in the past few months,” the officer said.
‘It’s anticipatory anxiety’
Qasab’s state may be compared to what a student goes through before the exams. His humming is a result of what is termed as anticipatory anxiety. It is symptomatic of butterflies in the tummy, breaking into a cold sweat, palpitations etc. But, students appearing for exams harbour some hope of passing. As for Qasab, he is up against a wall.
Dr Yusuf Matcheswalla, psychiatrist at Masina and J J hospitals
166, the number of people Ajmal Amir Qasab has been charged for killing during the 26/11 attacks 11, the number of police officials who died during the attacks 86, the number of offences Qasab has been charged with, including murder and waging war on India
Did you know?
Qasab hails from Faridkot village in the Okara District of Punjab, Pakistan. His father reportedly makes a living selling dahi wadas