Kasab is shrewd, kills without a twinge of conscience: SC

New Delhi, Aug 29: Pakistani terrorist

is "quite clever and shrewd" and killed without "the slightest twinge of conscience" said the Supreme Court, dismissing his plea for leniency on purported ground that he was brain washed by

and acted like a robot.

"We are unable to accept the submission that the appellant was a mere tool in the hands of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. He joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba around Dec 2007 and continued as its member till the end, despite a number of opportunities to leave it. This shows his clear and unmistakable intention to be a part of the organisation and participate in its designs," said a bench headed by Justice Aftab Alam.

"It is true that he is not educated but he is a very good and quick learner, has a tough mind and strong determination. He is also quite clever and shrewd," it further said.

The court said Kasab has many times described himself as a patriotic Pakistani and has no remorse for waging war against India. "Even after his arrest, he regarded himself as a 'watan parast,' a patriotic Pakistani at war with this country. Where is the question of his being brain-washed or acting under remote control? We completely disagree that the appellant was acting like an automaton. During the past months while we lived through this case, we have been able to make a fair assessment of the appellant’s personality," the bench said.

"Unfortunately, he is wholly remorseless and any feeling of pity is unknown to him. He kills without the slightest twinge of conscience," the bench said.

PTI