Mumbai: He often scratches his head, stretches his arms and yawns with boredom. That is how Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the sole survivor among the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai 26/11, reacts to his trial proceedings through video-conferencing while sitting in a special bullet-proof cell.
Kasab, 23, lodged at Arthur Road Central Jail in the congested south-central Mumbai, has access to the court proceedings through video-conferencing facilities, government lawyers to defend and advise him, as well as Z-plus security, which is otherwise meant for VVIPs.
Sources within the security circles and the home ministry say Kasab's security is one of the costliest affairs for the state. It spends a whopping Rs2 crore (Dh1.6 million) per month to keep him safe and secure. Kasab was awarded the death sentence by a special court, set up inside the jail, in May.
Under heavy guard
The government spent millions to build a special 20-ft corridor as his egg-shaped cell was reinforced with iron plates, made bullet and bomb-proof and a battalion of armed paramilitary personnel were assigned to the jail when the trial began in the sessions court April 17.
Besides the special prison cell, another cell was created inside J.J. Hospital for Kasab's treatment. Sources, however, said he was never taken there. Instead, doctors were summoned to the Arthur Road Jail, whenever Kasab had a health problem.
Kasab was chained and handcuffed at all the times while he was produced in court for trial. Arthur Road Jail was virtually turned into a fortress with the deployment of around 1,000 policemen.
Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani, who is now the principal sessions judge, awarded the capital punishment to the sole surviving Pakistani gunman for his role in the November 26-29 terror attack.
However, when the case came up for hearing in the Bombay High Court on October 18, it was decided that Kasab will follow the court proceedings only through video-conferencing and that too only if he wishes to do so.
