Court removes Kasab's lawyer Waghmare for misconduct

Mumbai, Apr 15 (ANI): A special court on Wednesday removed Anjali Waghmare, the lawyer of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the November 2008 Mumbai attack, on grounds of 'professional misconduct'.

Anjali, who is a lawyer from the state legal aid cell, was appointed on March 30.

Kasab had said he wanted a lawyer to represent him during the trial and was ready to accept a government-appointed lawyer.

The decision to remove Waghmare was announced during the trial of Kasab, which began this morning amid tight security.

Kasab personally appeared before the court at the Arthur Road Prison for the first time. Earlier, he had appeared before the court through a video-conference.

Nearly 1,000 security personnel have been pressed into service for Kasab's protection. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel have been deployed inside the jail.

Over 450 Mumbai Police personnel have also been deployed at the jail. In addition, platoons of reserved police personnel have also been placed.The movement of traffic too has been restricted around the special court and the jail. Even the entry of media personnel has been restricted.

Special bar-coded cards have been issued to media houses, lawyers and the court staff.

The police have issue special security passes to residents in the area.

"This issue is serious. The government is doing right by tightening security. Public should know what's happening," said Aneesh Shinday, a resident.However, some residents expressed dissent over the case running for so long.

"Kasab should be hanged. There is no point in stretching this case. Even media pursue such cases for some time till they don't get news," said Sunil Bhandarkar, another resident. (ANI)