How 'actor' Kasab managed to dupe India to delay his death?

, Nov 21: It took India almost four years to execute 26/11 Mumbai

attack convict Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab. Kasab was hanged till

at Yerwada jail in Pune around 7.30 am on Wednesday, Nov 21. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil confirmed the news on Wednesday morning.

But, during his trial period, Kasab came out as a shrewd actor who managed to dupe Indian authorities. He acted and pretended well to delay his hanging. On Apr 15, 2009, during the early stage of proceedings, Kasab appeared relaxed in court. He is reported to have greeted the presiding judge and smiled throughout the proceedings. He told the judge, "If I have to tell you something, I will inform my lawyer."

He appeared curious about the reporters present, made gestures to the special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and tried chatting with a fellow defendant, Ansari, until he was told to keep quiet by the judge.

On Apr 17, 2009, Kasab retracted a confession made earlier. His lawyer said it was extracted through coercion and force. The confession he withdrew was earlier read in court.

On May 6, 2009 Kasab described himself as a labourer from Faridkot in Pakistan's Punjab province. He pleaded not guilty to the charges set out against him. He told the court, "It's all wrong. I'm not guilty." During the day's proceedings, Kasab was asked to confirm his age as 21. His defence had previously tried to argue he was under 18 and should be tried as a minor. Kasab sparked laughter in the courtroom when he said if the prosecutor had believed his earlier answer he would not now be in this court.

On May 12, 2009, the presiding judge issued a sharp warning to Kasab to refrain from smiling during the trial. He was reprimanded on the day that various witnesses described the death of police officer Tukaram Omble at a checkpoint in Mumbai. Correspondents say the judge showed his annoyance when he said, "I have noticed he [Kasab] always laughs when Omble's name is mentioned and the incident is talked about." Omble was killed during the gun battle in which Kasab was finally overpowered and taken into custody.

On Jun 15, 2009, Kasab laid his head down and wept after photographs showing him firing at people at the CST railway station were produced before the court. Kasab's lawyer, Abbas Kazmi, said his client was not feeling well.

On Jul 10, 2009, during the dramatic testimony of policeman Sadanand Date, who described hand-to-hand combat with the attackers outside Mumbai's Cama hospital, Kasab asked the judge if he could send a letter to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

On Jul 20, 2009, Kasab stands up before the court to say he admitted his role in the killings. It is not clear why he changed his plea after pleading not guilty in May to all charges. He said there had been no pressure on him to confess and it had been his decision to do so. Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said, "We were not expecting this. We were all shocked when he made a plea of guilt."

On Jul 22, 2009, Kasab told the court that he was ready to be hanged after admitting his role in the violence. His outburst came as prosecutors said he had changed his plea to guilty to secure leniency.

All these above mentioned incidences clearly show how Kasab manipulated the trial by laughing and lying his way to delay judgement.

OneIndia News