26/11 chargesheet by Wednesday; LeT men in Pak to be named

Mumbai, Feb 24 (PTI) Mumbai Police will file a 5,000-page
chargesheet Wednesday into the 26/11 audacious terror strikes
that had held the entire financial capital of the country to
hostage for 72 hours in which over 180 people were killed.

The lone survivor terrorist of Pakistan-based
Lashkar-e-Taiba -- Mohammad Ajmal Amir Iman Kasab -- will face
charges ranging from waging war against the country to murder,
attempt to murder and other provisions of the Indian Penal
Code and under the stringent MCOCA, officials said. He is also
being charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

"The nearly 5000-page chargesheet is ready and will be
filed before a Metropolitan Magistrate tomorrow," special
public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam told PTI Tuesday without going
into further details.

Besides Kasab and nine other Lashker terrorists, the
chargesheet is expected to name around 20 more wanted accused,
believed to be hiding in Pakistan, including Yosuf Muzzamil
and Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind of the 26/11
carnage.

Kasab and his associate Mohammed Ismail Khan had
allegedly gunned down ATS chief Hemant Karkare, DIG Ashok
Kamte and encounter specialist Ashok Kamte in an encounter
near the Cama hospital, besides killing commuters at CST
station.

Kasab was caught alive by the police at Girgaon Chowpatty
while his associate Khan was killed during an exchange of fire
with the police.

The chargesheet will also contain his conversation with
his handlers in Pakistan, his interrogation report besides
eyewitness accounts.

The names of the wanted accused will figure in column two
of the chargesheet (those who could not be brought for trial)
which will enable the police to seek a non-bailable warrant
against them and subsequently an Interpol Red Corner Notice.

India has been exerting all diplomatic pressures on
Pakistan to handover the suspects, including Muzzamil and
Lakhvi to New Delhi for questioning in the case.

The Maharashtra government had decided that a special
court would be set up for trail of the incident.

Kasab, along with nine others, came through the sea route
into the Indian waters, and indulged in shooting at various
places including Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman House, Oberoi hotel
and VT station that resulted in killing of more than 180
people besides injuries to hundred others.

The other accomplices of the Lashkar terrorist were
killed during the gun battle with Mumbai Police and elite
National Security Guard.

Mumbai Police has decided to club all the 12 cases
registered on the intervening night of November 26 and
November 27 last year.

While Nikam refused to divulge where the trial would be
held, sources in the Maharashtra Government said it was likely
to be held inside the high-security Arthur Road jail, the same
venue where the trial and sentencing of nearly 100 accused
took place for conspiring in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Though some of the lawyers have expressed their
willingness to defend the 22-year-old Lashkar terrorist during
the trial, the accused has not shown any inclination to hire
an Indian lawyer and has been insisting for being defended by
a Pakistani lawyer.

He is at present in police custody till February 26 in
connection with the blast at Vile Parley blast case.

Ajmal was shifted to the Arthur Road prison on December
27 for identification parade where around 40 witnesses were
summoned to identify the terrorist.

The chargesheet will be in English, Marathi and Urdu
languages, officials said.

The names of Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who had
allegedly conducted the recce before the attacks, will be
included in the main chargesheet, the officials added. PTI SP
PMR
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