Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab told the special sessions court on Monday that while in custody, the police shot his arm after administering local anaesthesia. Kasab’s response came after the court asked him about the firing incident in the Rang Bhavan Lane, where three top police officers lost their lives. The court was recording his statement under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC).
“Police station me maari thi, sunn karneka injection deke. Tike lagaye. [I was shot in the police station after being given anaesthetic shots],” he said showing his hands to the judge.
According to the prosecution’s evidence, Kasab’s hand was injured during the exchange of fire between the police, and him and his partner Abu Ismail.
In response to the testimony of doctors, who examined him on the night of November 26, the lone surviving gunman conceded that he was admitted to the hospital, but said he was taken there from police custody. “At 11.15 p.m. I was taken to the hospital for the recording of my statement.” He could not remember his casualty number.
M.L. Tahaliyani presented witness testimonies pertaining to all the incidents, beginning from Kasab and Ismail’s exit from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) to Kasab’s capture in the encounter at Girgaum Chowpatty. Kasab denied knowledge of each one of them, including that of Ismail. He said around six police officers took him around the various locations.
At one point, in response to constable Arun Jadhav’s testimony, Kasab said, “Sach mujhe yaad nahi.” The court asked him to clarify whether he meant, “I don’t remember the truth” or “Truly, I don’t remember.” To a question on the Girgaum encounter, he said, “There was no one with me except the police.”
In his deposition, assistant police inspector Sanjay Govilkar had described how the police had overpowered Kasab with lathis and seized his AK 47. Refuting this, the gunman stated he was beaten at the police station. “Sharafat se leke gaye the. Mere paas kahan se ayi AK 47? [They took me to the police station respectfully. How can I possibly have an AK 47?],” he answered.
His photographs at CST and near an over bridge, shot by two photojournalists, and his bloodstained clothes worn during the course of the terror strikes were shown to him. He said that the photographs were not his. As for a pair of trousers and t-shirt, he remarked, “They won’t fit me. My blood was planted on them.” The shoes, he said, were small. “My size is 8 or 91/2.” Mr. Tahaliyani observed that Kasab had briskly denied ownership of the clothes even before looking at them.
Also denying the CCTV footage of two attackers outside The Times of India building, he said the two persons were Taj attackers.
In stark contrast to his articulate replies last week, his statements on Monday were devoid of digression or idiosyncrasy. They were limited to the utterances “I don’t know” and “I was not there.”
