Medical tests and witnesses reveal Kasab not juvenile

Mumbai, Apr 28 (PTI) The bone and dental tests of
Mumbai terror attack accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab Tuesday
revealed that he was not a juvenile as claimed by him, even as
two witnesses told the trial court that he had given his age
as 21 years when he was brought before them after his arrest.

This evidence has bolstered the prosecution's case
which had asked for an inquiry by the court to determine the
age of the accused before charges were framed against him.

Judge M L Tahaliyani took on record the reports of
ossification (bone) test and dental examination along with
X-rays which indicated that Kasab was above 20 years. The bone
test was conducted by a panel of four doctors of J.J hospital.

The dental examination of lower jaws of Kasab showed
his wisdom tooth and roots developed, indicating that he was a
major, Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

The X-ray of Kasab's elbow, shoulder, chest and pelvis
showed that there was a complete fusion of bones which
clearly indicated that he was above 20, added Nikam while
reading out the extracts of the report.

The panel of doctors have opined that Kasab must
surely be above the age of 20 years.

Apart from the findings of forensic reports that Kasab
was not a juvenile, prosecution examined two witnesses to tell
the court that Kasab had himself informed them that he was 21
years.
Jail Superintendent Swati Sathe, who was examined as
witness, said Kasab was admitted as an inmate of the central
jail on December 12 last year and he had given his age and
date of birth as 21 years and September 13, 1987,
respectively.

She even produced a register to show his age and date
of birth recorded by the jail staff.

Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi, during cross-examination,
pointed out that Kasab's age and date of birth was included in
the "physicial appearance" column and not in the "age" column.

To this, Sathe replied "this happened because Kasab
had intervened to say that he wanted to talk to his mother in
Pakistan and had even given the telephone number".

Asked if telephone numbers provided by other accused
were also recorded in the same register produced before the
court, Sathe replied "it is normally recorded in another
register. But Kasab's telephone number was recorded in this
register because he was referred to me as a "high risk"
prisoner".

However, Sathe could not explain why it was not
recorded in the same register that he was a "high risk"
prisoner.

To a question, the jail superintendent said that date
of birth of other prisoners had not been recorded in the
register but admitted that Kasab's date of birth was stated
therein.

Sathe denied the allegation that she had falsely
recorded Kasab's date of birth and his age at the instance of
police.

Another witness, Dr V Ramamurthy pointed at Kasab and
told the court, "he is the one who told me he was 21 when he
was brought to Nair hospital for treatment of injuries",

When the witness identified Kasab in the court, the
accused stood up and smiled at him. Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam
asked Kasab to take seat. Throughout the court proceedings,
the accused gave a broad smile and appeared at ease.

The resident doctor of Nair hospital said (pointing at
Kasab) said, "he was brought to trauma ward on November 26
night when I was on duty. He gave his name as Mohammed Ajmal
Amir Kasab, resident of Faridkot in Punjab and gave his age as
21".
These details were recorded by him in "indoor papers"
of the hospital, the doctor said and produced records to show
Kasab's date of birth and age written therein.

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi,
the witness said normally the patients are not required to
sign on the cover page of "Indoor papers" although there was
a column for this. He admitted that a signature appeared in
that column but could not explain who had signed it.

"I do not know who has signed it on behalf of Kasab
because I was not present at that time," Dr Ramamurthy said.
The witness denied the suggestion of defence lawyer
that he had falsely stated Kasab's age and date of birth at
the instance of police.

The witness told the Prosecutor that Kasab was able to
speak when he was brought to trauma ward of the hospital on
November 26.

But during cross examination, he told the defence
lawyer that he had not mentioned in his statement to police
that Kasab was able to speak.

The court has summoned three more witnesses Wednesday
on a plea by Kasab's lawyer.

They are a doctor who had signed the ossification test
report of Kasab, casualty medical officer of Nair Hospital and
a record assistant of the same hospital. PTI SVS
PMR
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