NEW DELHI: In a dramatic twist to the 26/11 terror attack’ case, main accused Mohammad Ajmal Kasab on Friday retracted from his earlier statement

and claimed he was forcibly made to confess.

Denying all charges against him, Kasab said the statement was made under duress.

The lone surviving terrorist captured by the police during the Mumbai attacks was scheduled to give a statement today on evidence introduced against him by the prosecution for his alleged role in the 26/11 terror attacks.

Kasab had made three confessions after his arrest. One was admission of guilt before police soon after his arrest, the other confession was made before a magistrate which is admissible as evidence and the third one was in the trial court when the accused accepted his guilt partially.

Clearly Kasab has decided not to stick to any of these confessions when the court recorded his version today.

In his confession to police, Kasab had given his entire training schedule in a Lashkar-e-Taiba camp in Pakistan. He also named some of the trainers and the regimen he followed since his induction into LeT.

In the confession before a magistrate, Kasab has spelt each and every aspect of his training, the terror plan and voyage to Mumbai, killing of Amarsinh Solanki-- the navigator of Kuber trawler, touching the shores of Mumbai in a dingy and finally his role in the 26/11 terror attacks.

In this confession, he also named LeT founder Hafeez Sayed, his indoctrination, the role played by LeT chief of operations Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi alias Chacha.

Kasab has also elaborated how one "Major Sahab" used to review the training. He has also said how he was praised by the 'Major Sahab' during the firing practice.

The most important part of his confession says Kasab was told by his masters and handlers that the aim of Mumbai terror attack was linked to Kashmir liberation.

Kasab, however, surprised everyone in the trial court when suddenly he announced that he would like to accept his guilt. The court heard him and recorded his statement, but reserved its judgement whether to accept it or not until the evidence was over.

In this guilt plea, Kasab accepted partially the charges framed against him. He, however, denied some portions of his earlier versions given to police and magistrate.

During the trial, Kasab accepted in the court that he had participated in the terror attacks, had fired at public places, but said he had played a secondary role and was following Abu Ismael who was his leader.

Kasab said it was Abu Ismael who had inflicted heavy casualties at CST and Cama hospital by firing indiscriminately at people. The Pakistani gunman further said he had not fired at police officer Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar and it was Abu Ismael who had shot them dead.

Kasab had also denied having gunned down constable Tukaram Omble at Girgaum Chowpatty in an encounter with a police team on November 26 last year.

Two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who are facing trial along with Kasab, would also give their statements after the court records Kasab's version.

All the three accused are charged with murder of 166 persons and participating in the conspiracy. Ansari and Ahmed are also charged with drawing maps of 26/11 targets and handing them over to LeT to carry out terror attacks in Mumbai.



Source:-

The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...ow/5351020.cms

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