Is Kasab's death enough to wipe-out terrorism from India?

Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2012, 14:12 [IST]

Mumbai, Nov 21: Is it too early to celebrate the execution of Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab as India has a long way to go to eradicate terrorism on its own soil? Experts feel that LeT terrorist Kasab was merely a foot soldier sent by Pakistan to attack Mumbai, the financial hub of India.

Kasab was hanged till death 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.

Terrorism in India, according to the Home Ministry, poses a significant threat to the state. Terrorism in India has two faces--external and internal. "External terrorism emerge from neighbouring countries and internal terrorism emulates from religious or communal violence and Naxalite-Maoist insurgency," says Home Ministry.

"The regions with long term terrorist activities are Jammu and Kashmir, Mumbai, Central India (Naxalism) and the seven North-eastern states (independence and autonomy movements). As of 2006, at least 232 of the country's 608 districts were afflicted, at differing intensities, by various insurgent and terrorist movements. In Aug 2008, National Security Advisor MK Narayanan has said that there are as many as 800 terrorist cells operating in the country," adds source in Home Ministry.

The Indian government was under pressure to act against a man who carried out one of the deadliest attacks in the country. Kasab was the only surviving terrorist of the 26/11 attacks, who was arrested by police. On May 6, 2010, the Mumbai trial court had given the death sentence to Kasab, which was later upheld by the Bombay High Court on Feb 12 last year. The apex court had rejected his appeal on Aug 29.

The BJP had sought that the apex court's decision awarding the death sentence to Kasab should be carried out at the earliest. In the 26/11 attacks, 166 people were killed, when 10 men from Pakistan sailed into Mumbai. They had spent 72 hours targeting the city's landmarks on the fateful day.

OneIndia News