Now, govt ponders over Kasab's hi-fi cell, security measures

, Nov 23: Now with

dead, the

government is trying to find a new occupant for the former's high-profile cell in Arthur Road

here. Authorities are also mulling over the future of the special security arrangements that were provided to the 26/11 terror attacks convict. [Update:

]

While the bulletproof egg-shaped cell, which was specially made for Kasab for a whopping Rs 5.2 crore, might be used to lodge other high-profile inmates like Abu Jundal, the 26/11 handler who was extradited by Saudi Arabia a few months ago, the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel who were in charge of his security will be sent back to the Centre. Informing about the ITBP men's return, Maharashtra home minister RR Patil said on Thursday that he would meet the security personnel on Monday and express his gratitude for their good work.

Speaking on the Centre's demand to Maharashtra government to pay for the ITBP's service, Patil said they requested the former to waive off Rs 21 crore incurred on the security personnel for Kasab was a man who was convicted of carrying an attack against the nation.

The public works department (PWD) had built the special cell for Kasab after he was brought to the Arthur Road Jail in 2008 following the attacks. The solitary confinement cell has a reinforced steel wall and a 20-foot-long bomb-and-bulletproof tunnel on the jail premises. The tunnel connects the cell to the special court where the 26/11 trial was held. CCTVs were also installed by the PWD to monitor the place round the clock.

The state government spent Rs 1.47 crore on Kasab during his stay at the Arthur Jail for four years. While Rs 39,000 was spent on his medical expenses, Rs 42,000 was incurred on food and Rs 1,878 on clothes.

The jail authorities also suggested to convert the special 26/11 court into the MCOCA court. They said it would save time on escorting prisoners to the court during the trial and also minimise possibilities of prisoners fleeing from police custody.

OneIndia News