26/11 attacks: Kasab pleads guilty

The lone surviving terrorist in 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, today pleaded guilty before the trial court to the attacks that left over 180 dead.       

Kasab told the special court that he was confessing to his involvement in the strikes.       

He added that he owns up his involvement in the attacks at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and nearby Cama hospital in south Mumbai.

Kasab admitted that he came in a boat from Karachi along with nine other terrorists to carry out the dastardly acts on the night of November 26 in four places including the iconic Taj and Oberoi Hotels.

The trial in the case began on April 17 in a makeshift court room in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail.   

Kasab and other terrorists have been also charged with killing five crew members of the boat 'Kuber' with which they reached the shores of Mumbai from Pakistan.  

They also face charges of planting a bomb in a taxi that exploded in Vile Parle besides firing at CST and Cama hospital, killing three policemen near Rang Bhavan. They have been accused of stealing a Skoda car and killing a policeman at Chowpatty.     

Kasab and other accused also face conspiracy charges for the firing at hotels Taj and Oberoi, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe restaurant and planting a bomb that exploded at Mazgaon.     

Prosecution has said Kasab and other suspected members of Pakisan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba were able to succeed in their designs to strike terror in Mumbai on November 26 because of maps allegedly provided by co-accused Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin.

The confession by 21-year-old Kasab comes on the 65th day of the trial.  

As a prosecution witness stepped into the box in the court to depose today, Kasab sought permission to speak to his lawyer Abbas Kazmi.

He consulted Kazmi for about half a minute after which the lawyer informed the court that Kasab wanted to confess.  

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam objected saying that at this stage of the trial, the accused could not confess before the court. The judge overruled his objection and allowed Kasab to proceed with his confession.   

Kasab described how he and slain terrorist Abu Ismail had opened fire at CST, Cama hospital and other places killing people.

Kasab had appeared before the court for the first time through video-conferencing. Hewas served with an 11,000-page chargesheet which was filed by the crime branch against 38 accused in the November 26 terror strikes.  Out of the 38 accused, 35 Pakistani nationals and operatives of LeT have been shown as wanted.  

They include Zaki-ur-Rehman Laqvi, Yousif Muzammil, Abu Kafa, Abu Ramza and Zarar Shah. It included names of two suspected Pakistani armymen.  

The accused have been charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including waging war against nation and criminal conspiracy and under the Foreigners Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Customs Act.