Chidambaram praises Indian legal system for handling of 26/11 case

NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Monday that the manner in which the case of Mohammad Ajmal Kasab had been dealt with has raised the prestige of the Indian legal system.

Chidambaram made the statement soon after the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction and death sentence given to Kasab on charges including waging war on India and murder.

“This is a tribute to our legal system. I think we should allow our legal system to deal with the case in a manner every other case is dealt with. The manner in which we have dealt with Kasab case has actually raised the prestige of the Indian legal system,” said Chidambaram.

Earlier in May last year, a local Mumbai court had passed the death sentence for Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the attacks that killed 166 people.

Ten gunmen landed on Mumbai’s shores by boats at sunset on November 26, 2008, and fired indiscriminately at a busy railway station, a Jewish settlement, a popular restaurant and two luxury hotels.

Several people were held hostage over the next three days and at least 166 people were killed before Indian commandos smoked out the last of the militants on November 28, 2008.

India accuses Pakistan-based militants of organising the attacks, saying Islamabad is failing to act against those who organised the raids.

Pakistan denies involvement and says it is prosecuting seven suspected militants for their role.

New Delhi broke off peace talks with Pakistan after the attack, saying Islamabad had first to act against militants operating from its soil, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba of which Kasab is accused of being a member. (ANI)