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By Arthur Conrad
An Indian Court today upheld the death penalty for Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman of the deadly assault on the Indian financial capital city of Mumbai. The judges rejected Qasab’s appeal saying he was guilty of waging war against India, multiple murder and conspiracy. A lower court has awarded the death sentence to Qasab in May last year. Qasab and nine others killed more than 170 people when they attacked Mumbai in 2008.
The Bombay High Court said Qasab could appeal the verdict to India's Supreme Court and the Indian government would give legal aid if he chose to appeal. "The case was of extreme brutality. The crime was enormous and pre-planned. It was a threat to society," judges Ranjana Desai and Ranjit More said in their ruling. The court said Qasab was "responsible for the murder of seven people directly and more than 66 people with an accomplice". He was involved in the killings of "the rest by conspiracy". "Qasab killed innocent people, including women and children, mercilessly. He never showed any remorse," the judges said.
Qasab heard the verdict through a video link from the Arthur Road prison. He wore a white spotless kurta and was seen smiling throughout the court proceedings. The court however, acquitted two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, accused of helping the attackers.
Ten gunmen attacked Mumbai and all of them except Qasab were killed by the Indian security forces. The attackers targeted luxury hotels, the main railway station and a Jewish cultural centre. Qasab carried out the assault on the railway station with an accomplice, killing 52 people.
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