Prison food laced with drugs, alleges Kasab

Ajmal Kasab, under trial for the Mumbati terror attack, sneaked into court some food he brought from jail, alleging that it contained tranquillisers.

PICKY PRISONER: A picture of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Kasab alleged that his food was laced with tranquilizers. A claim disproved by medical experts. File photo

Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab has complained to the 26/11 terror trial court that food given to him in jail is laced with tranquilisers. However, medical experts have said there is no truth in his allegations, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said here today.

Kasab had made a grievance before Judge M L Tahaliyani some days ago that food supplied to him was “drugged” and even produced a sample of rice in a piece of paper to support his allegation, Mr. Nikam said.

Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi said Kasab had indeed made such a grievance to the court in his presence. Taking cognizance of his complaint, the court had forwarded the sample to medical experts for an opinion.

“The experts have opined that the rice sample did not contain any tranquiliser,” Mr. Nikam said. “Kasab is a liar and had made baseless allegations to derail the trial,” he added.

Nikam said the trial had reached final stage and that Kasab knows substantial evidence has been adduced against him. “He is making such allegations to gain sympathy from people,” said Mr. Nikam. “This is all drama and he is a great actor,” he added.

Kasab has not only been given military training by the 26/11 conspirators but also imparted intelligence training on how to mislead investigators or authorities if he was caught. It is these techniques he is using now, Mr. Nikam alleged.

Earlier, Kasab had complained to the court that the food served to him was sub-standard and that he wanted to have “Biryani”. However, the court told him that he would have to take the same food which was served to other prisoners.