Magistrate says Kasav's confession was voluntary

Mumbai, Sep 30 (ANI): A magistrate, who recorded the confession of the Ajmal Kasav the lone surviving attacker of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strike said on Wednesday that his confession was voluntary and not given under duress.

Deposing before a special court in Arthur Road jail, the unnamed magistrate added that Kasav showed no remorse while making his confession.

The magistrate also went on to add that when she asked the real reason behind his confession, Kasav had told her that he wanted other people to take inspiration from his jihad actions and wanted them to turn to the cause of jihad.

The magistrate's statement gains significance, as earlier Kasav had retracted his confession in the trial court saying his statement was recorded under duress and that he had not given it voluntarily.

Earlier, hearing an application moved by Prosecutor Ujwal Nikkam to examine the Magistrate, who recorded Kasav's statement Special Judge M L Tahaliyani had issued summons asking the witness to depose to throw light on whether Kasav had given a voluntary confession.

Kasav had bared the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba in his confession saying that its chief Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-Ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Abu Hamza had trained the accused persons in various parts of Pakistan with military and intelligence assistance.

In his confession Kasav had said Hafiz Saeed had told attackers that time had come for jihad and their ultimate goal of capturing Jammu and Kashmir could be achieved by attacking India.

Kasav also confessed that they were told to go to Mumbai and indiscriminately fire at people, killing as many as they could.

Kasav is charged with seven cases including murder of crew of marine vessel Kuber and its navigator, CST firing, Cama Hospital firing, gunning down three police officers, a taxi bomb explosion in Virle Parel, theft of a Skoda car and a policeman's murder at Chowpatty.

Kasav was also named as a conspirator in firing at Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Nariman House and taxi bomb blast at Mazgaon.

The attack, of 26/11 which left over 160 people killed including many foreigners, was a proxy war waged against India and aimed at estabilising the country. (ANI)