Kasab dilutes role in Nov 26 attacks, shifts blame on others

Mumbai, Jul 22 (PTI) Lone surviving 26/11 terrorist,
Mohammad Ajmal Kasab has midway into the trial diluted his
role in the November 26 attacks by shifting blame on nine
other slain terrorists for the strikes that took over 180
lives.

In the confession, a copy of which is available with
PTI, Kasab asserted that it was his partner Abu Ismail who
shot at the police officers in the jeep near Cama hospital.

"Outside Cama hospital, we saw a police jeep coming
towards us. There was firing from the jeep and Abu Ismail also
fired at the vehicle. I sustained injury on my right forearm,
right elbow and left wrist and I had fallen down along with my
gun," Kasab said.

He further said that Ismail proceeded towards the
vehicle while firing continuously.

"By that time even I got up and went towards the
vehicle with my gun under my right arm. We opened the jeep
doors and found police officers. They appeared to be dead,"
the confession read.

Ismail started driving the jeep, when Kasab told him
that he was hurt and thus not in the position to move further.

"Ismail told me not to lose confidence and that even
he is hurt," Kasab said.

Even about police encounter at Girgaum Chowpatty,
Kasab has not talked about fatally injuring police constable
Tukaram Omble, although the prosecution's case is that the
gunman had killed the policeman.

Referring to Girgaum Chowpatty incident, Kasab said he
had asked Ismail to slow down the car they were travelling in
and tell the police that they were college students.

"Abu tried to take a U-turn and got confused. Police
came to our vehicle. One policeman grabbed me by my collar and
pulled me out of the car," Kasab said.

He further said that the policemen started assaulting
him with sticks and when he regained consciousness he was in a
hospital.

Kasab, in his confession, has also tried to conceal
his role in the murder of Amarsingh Solanki, navigator of M V
Kuber through which the alleged terrorists reached the shores
of Mumbai on November 26 last year.

Earlier, a panch witness had told the court that Kasab
had revealed to him how he and others had killed Solanki.

Describing his journey from Karachi in Pakistan to
Mumbai, first in 'Al-Hussaini'boat and then in fishing
trawler, Kuber, Kasab said it was not him but the other
terrorists who had murdered Solanki, navigator of Kuber.

"After four days on Kuber, on November 26 afternoon,
Ismail took Solanki to the cabin and also directed Abu Soheb
and Abu Akasha to come inside," Kasab said.

He further said that Soheb went inside the cabin with
a knife and when he came out the knife was stained with blood,
which was then thrown into the sea.

"I was assigned the duty of keeping a watch the whole
time," Kasab said. PTI