Supreme Court stays Kasab's death sentence, says he deserves to be heard

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the death sentence which was awarded to Ajmal Kasab, the sole gunman captured alive on November 26-29, 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

An Apex Court bench consisting of Justices Aftab Aslam and C.K. Prasad stayed the death sentence till it hears his petition challenging his conviction and death sentence.

At the outset of hearing, Justice Aftab Aslam has said that they have to afford him full opportunity to defend himself as provided in the judicial system.

The court said that this is the price that they had to pay so as to uphold the supremacy of law.

Senior Counsel Raju Ramachandran, who has been appointed as the amicus curie (friend of the court) so as to defend Kasab said that the people might believe it otherwise, but the due process of law demands that the accused has to be given full opportunity to defend his case in the highest court.

Kasab was one of then ten Pakistanis who illegally sailed to India from Pakistan and launched the 26-29 mayhem killing 166 people, including many foreigners.

He was awarded death sentence by a Mumbai Trial Court on May 6, 2010. Besides other charges, he was also convicted for waging war against the nation. The Bombay High Court upheld the verdict.

News reported by AR for Newvision

3 bomb blasts in Mumbai: 13 killed and 81 injured

In a bomb blast that rocked the Mumbai on Wednesday evening in the crowded Dadar, Opera House and Zaveri Bazar areas has lead to the loss of life of at least 13 people and approximately 81 people have been injured in these serial bomb blasts. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan confirmed that the 13 death reports also include casualties from all the three locations hit by the blasts. Union Home Ministry has confirmed that the reason behind this blast is terror strikes and added that in all the three locations Improvised Technical devices have been used. Union Home Secretary also confirmed that they have sent the required security forces to be present at the spot. He also added that the blast is alleged to have occurred one in a Maruti esteem car and another in a motorcycle. The blast at Dadar took place in Kabutar Khana, in the two-storey JK Building at Tata Road No. 1 in Opera House and at Khaul Gali in Zaveri Bazar. Wednesday blasts took place just two days after the fifth anniversary of the Mumbai serial train blasts on July 11, 2006 in which at least 186 persons were killed. The blasts took place in all the said places within a gap of shorter duration. The first blast being reported at 6:50 pm in South Mumbai's Zaveri Bazar , in which some people were injured. The second blast occurred in Dadar area in a taxi. According to a eye witness report a fire that broke out in Zaveri Bazar following the blasts have been brought under control. Police, ambulance, home guards and fire brigade have been rushed to the spot. The injured people have been sent to JJ Hospital, GT Hospital, KEM Hospital and St. George's hospital. Security alerts have been alarmed in major cities of India namely Delhi, Kolkata after the bomb blasts in Mumbai. Reported by AR