Kasab to be sentenced on May 6

RELIEF AFTER JUSTICE: Devika Rotwan, who lost her leg during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, walks by the Taj Hotel in Mumbai on Monday.

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only surviving gunman of the November 26 terror strike will be sentenced on May 6 by the special sessions court here.

Kasab has already been convicted of various crimes, and among the serious charges he has been found guilty of waging war and committing murder, which carry the punishment of death or life imprisonment.

“The final judgment on sentence is the day after tomorrow [Thursday],” judge M.L. Tahaliyani announced after the prosecution and the defence had concluded their arguments on the quantum of sentence on Tuesday.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam argued for death penalty for Kasab. He said the 26/11 attack met the criterion of “rarest of rare case,” in terms of its brutality and the scale of premeditation. Stripped of humanity, Kasab was “a killing machine,” unrepentant of his acts, and only a death penalty would serve the ends of justice, Mr. Nikam said.

Defence lawyer K.P. Pawar, on the other hand, pleaded for the lighter sentence of life imprisonment. He argued that Kasab, a poor young man, had committed the offences under the domination of Lashkar bosses. He said given Kasab's influential age, he had formulated incorrect notions about religion and should be given a chance to reform himself.

Mr. Pawar contended there was every likelihood that Kasab could be reformed and rehabilitated.