Ujjwal Nikam - The Biggest Liar and Terrorist

Kasab says he was framed for attacks AFP/Mumbai
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab
A Pakistani man on trial in India over the attacks that killed 166 people in Mumbai last year retracted his confession yesterday, saying he never took part and had been framed by police.
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab rejected evidence given by witnesses during the eight-month trial, saying they had been told by police to identify him and that he had only admitted his role because he had been threatened.
“I was not present at VT,” the 22-year-old told the court, referring to Victoria Terminus, the former name of Mumbai’s main railway station, where he is accused of opening fire on November 26, killing 52 and injuring over 100.
“I do not know what has happened. Witnesses have come and recognised me because my face looks similar to the terrorists,” he told Judge M L. Tahaliyani at a special prison court in Mumbai. “That is why I was picked up. I have been framed,” he said in Hindi. Kasab faces a string of charges in connection with the attacks by 10 heavily armed gunmen on multiple targets in India’s financial capital, including “waging war” on the country, murder and attempted murder.
A verdict is expected early next year. He could be executed if found guilty.
Kasab initially pleaded not guilty when the trial started in April, but in July made a shock confession, admitting being one of two gunmen who opened fire at the busy station.
He also detailed how the group was trained by the banned Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, then asked for swift justice. “Please go ahead and hang me,” he said at the time.
The admission was dismissed as only a partial confession.
Kasab was speaking after the end of formal evidence this week.
In Indian law, defendants have the chance to respond to the claims of witnesses before lawyers make closing speeches and the judge pronounces the verdict.
The defendant, barefoot and wearing a white traditional kurta tunic and trousers, appeared relaxed and confident in the witness box as he responded to the prosecution evidence, a reporter in court said.
The prosecution has presented security camera footage and press photographs that they say show Kasab and an accomplice, Abu Ismail, at the station with powerful AK-47 assault rifles.
DNA and fingerprint evidence matching Kasab has also been produced. But Kasab told the court: “If you see, all witness accounts are similar. They talk about a tall guy and a short guy. This shows that the police have told these people to identify me as a terrorist.
“I have learnt from the police that the short guy is dead. His name is Abu Ali.”
Abu Ali was one of the four gunmen killed during the 60-hour siege at the luxury Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel.
Kasab said he had travelled by train to Mumbai – home of the Bollywood film industry – “to see cinema” and was picked up by police on a beach in the northern suburbs 20 days before the attacks.
“The police searched me at that point and found that I was a Pakistani. They took my passport and visa,” he said.
He was later forced to give a false confession while witnesses were told to identify him as one of the attackers, he said.
Kasab yesterday also said that his initial recorded statement made soon after his arrest and apparently detailing his involvement was made under duress from police.
“I was threatened by them,” he told the judge. “The statements I have made earlier are false.”
Judge Tahaliyani stopped the defendant when he said “four foreigners” had visited him in custody and mentioned the name “Headley” -- an American-Pakistani recently charged in the United States in connection with the attacks.
The judge said the trial related to his alleged involvement, not that of anyone else.
Medical reports read in court said Kasab – who is being held in solitary confinement – was mentally fit but had been suffering from mild fever for the last few days.
Speaking outside court, Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam dismissed Kasab’s claims as his latest “U-turn” and said it would not affect the trial because there was “strong and clinching evidence” against him.
The trial was adjourned until Monday, when Kasab is expected to continue responding to the evidence.