26/11 trial: defence to cross-examine 69 witnesses

The trial in the 26/11 terror attack case may get prolonged after the defence told the court on Tuesday it would cross-examine 69 witnesses.

The prosecution had on Monday submitted the affidavits of 340 witnesses, divided into 12 categories which included claimants of the dead bodies, the inquest panch witnesses, injured persons who were not eye-witnesses, carriers of seized materials to forensic lab among others.

Out of the 200 witnesses from four categories, surviving LeT gunman Ajmal Kasab’s lawyer K.P. Pawar said he would cross-examine 69 witnesses.

These witnesses include the inquest panch and the injured witnesses from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Cama hospital.

Judge M.L. Tahilyani issued summons to the 69 witnesses directing them to be present on December 3 and 4.