Death penalty confirmed for Mumbai terror gunman

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India's Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed the death sentence handed down to Mohammed Kasab, the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed.

Pakistan-born Kasab, one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to India's financial capital in attacks that lasted nearly three days, had appealed against the sentence claiming that he had not received a fair trial.

"We are left with no option but to award death penalty," the two judges said in a court order. "The primary and foremost offense committed by Kasab is waging war against the government of India."

Kasab, who is currently held in a maximum-security prison in Mumbai, was found guilty on charges including waging war, murder and terrorist acts, and was sentenced to death in May 2010.

After losing his Supreme Court petition, Kasab is expected to lodge a final appeal for clemency with new President Pranab Mukherjee, who has another 11 cases to consider.

Only one execution has taken place in India in 15 years - that of a former security guard hanged in 2004 for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.

"The best possible points were put forward dispassionately on behalf of the accused," state prosecutor Gopal Subramanium told reporters. "They have been considered and the court ultimately dismissed the appeal."

Ujjwal Nikam, who led the case against Kasab throughout the trial process, called on the death sentence to be carried out "as soon as possible so that it gives a strong signal to terrorists".

During the November 2008 attacks, heavily armed Islamist gunmen stormed targets in Mumbai including luxury hotels, a Jewish center, a hospital and a bustling train station.

India blames the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant organization for training, equipping and financing the gunmen with support from "elements" in the Pakistan military.

Kasab initially pleaded not guilty but later confessed, admitting he was one of the gunmen sent by the LeT.

At his trial, the prosecution produced fingerprint, DNA, eyewitness and TV footage evidence showing him opening fire and throwing grenades at Mumbai's main railway station in the bloodiest episode of the attacks.

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Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.