The Hindu : Front Page : Kashmir not in 26/11 final charges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 21, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Kashmir not in 26/11 final charges

Staff Reporter

Mumbai: The capture of Kashmir, touted as one of the motives behind the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks, finds no mention in the final charges framed in the case. A copy of the charges, framed on May 6, was made available to the media on Wednesday.

The charges proposed by the prosecution against Mohammad Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab’ and the other accused had listed the motive of capturing Kashmir by attacking major cities in India.

In his opening address when the trial began, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam contended that the capture of Kashmir was a definite object of the criminal conspiracy.

While the final charges include motives such as destabilising the government of India, an attempt to create instability, terrorising people and weakening India’s economic might, there is no reference to Kashmir.

Indian Penal Code sections 121A (conspiracy to wage war, abet in or attempt to wage war against the government of India) and 122 (collecting arms with the intention of waging war) are part of the charges framed.

Kashmir figures prominently in Ajmal’s confessional statement. He said the Mujahideen were told to fight to free Kashmir. In the statement, Lashkar leader Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi is reported to have said: “Now we have to wage a war with India and conquer Kashmir.” Ajmal later retracted his statement in court.

Dr. Shailesh Mohite, who performed the post-mortem examination on the deceased accused, Abu Ismail, was grilled for nearly two hours by defence lawyer Shahid Azmi.

When he asked whether external injuries could have led to profuse bleeding, the doctor replied in the negative.

Mr. Azmi, who represents accused Fahim Ansari, tried to probe whether there were bloodstains on the trousers.

Mumbai Terror-Comprehensive Coverage

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page