Right after the country woke up to the news of 26/11 attacker and Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab’s secret execution in the city’s Yerwada Jail on Wednesday morning, people started gathering for ‘celebrating’ the death of the lone surviving man who had come to symbolise the heinous 2008 attack in Mumbai for the last four years.
Kasab was hanged to death at 7 30 am on Wednesday in what was called ‘Operation X’. Outside the jail premises crowds began to swell up from as early as 8 30 am, while sweets were being distributed and firecrackers could be heard in the city.
Santosh Thite, a resident of Yerwada, told The Hindu that he had come to ‘witness the historic event’. “I saw on TV that Kasab was hanged in Yerwada jail. I would say that it has come a little late, but this is what he deserved for attacking India.”
18 year old Rahul Barve who distributed sweets said, “This is a tribute to each and every one of the 166 people who lost their lives. This is justice.”
People continued to throng the jail premises. Police had to lay barricades to control the crowds outside till late Wednesday afternoon.
Pune City unit of Bharatiya Janata Party also held an event to mark the execution. “Salute to Mumbai police. I would say its better late than never. But this should have happened before Balasaheb Thackeray’s death,”BJP City President Vikas Mathkari said, speaking of Shiv Sena Chief Mr Thackeray who passed away on November 17.
In the city’s Congress party office, Pune City Youth Congress burst firecrackers and shouted slogans. “The Youth Congress would like to thank the President Mr Pranab Mukherjee for taking a brave step. “ We would also like to congratulate the Centre for the speedy action,”President Sunny Nimhan stated.
