The Hindu : Front Page : Ajmal an adult, aged 21: medical report

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Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009
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Ajmal an adult, aged 21: medical report

Staff Reporter

Mumbai: The Mumbai gunman, Mohammad Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab,’ is an adult, according to a medical report prepared by a team of four doctors. It was presented before the special sessions court at the Arthur Road jail here on Tuesday as part of evidence of the age of the lone surviving attacker involved in the 26/11 terror strikes.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told journalists that Ajmal’s dental examination showed that the wisdom tooth had erupted and that its roots had developed. X-rays of the elbow, fist, shoulder, chest and pelvis show a complete fusion of bones, clearly indicating an approximate age of 21.

After taking into consideration the test findings, the doctors opined that Ajmal must be more than 20 years old, Mr. Nikam said. However, when the doctors, before the examination, asked him how old he was, Ajmal said he was seventeen-and-a-half years old.

Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi told the court that he would like to take the opinion of another medical expert on the report. He would also like to cross-examine a doctor from the team. The prosecution presented two witnesses to testify to Ajmal’s age. Jail superintendent Swati Sathe said Ajmal, when he was admitted to the prison, gave his age as 21 and his date of birth as September 13, 1987.

Doctor testifies

Venkat Ramamurthy, a resident doctor in a government hospital, testified that when the injured Ajmal was brought there at 1 a.m. on November 27, 2008, he said his age was 21. Dr. Ramamurthy identified Ajmal in the court.

The court did not reach any decision in the matter as defence sought to examine two more witnesses from the hospital, where Ajmal underwent treatment.

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