For Ajmal Kasab, it was just another day

After being escorted back from the video conferencing room to his solitary cell, terrorist Ajmal Kasab sat down on the floor and showed no remorse or anguish. Half an hour later, he was served lunch after which he offered namaaz. It appeared to be a normal day for Kasab, against whom the Bombay high court confirmed the death sentence on Monday for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Jail superintendent Rajendra Dhamne said, “He is normal, and is showing no repentance or anguish.” Kasab is lodged in the special cell and has no access to anyone. He is being closely watched round the clock through the CCTV camera installed inside his cell, which is guarded by two prison officials.

The division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice RV More explained the verdict to him in Hindi as he does not understand English. In the trial court, judge ML Tahaliyani also used to address him partially in Urdu.

Justice Ranjana Desai told him, “Aapko saaza sunaiye gayi hai. Aapki sazaaye maut barkarar ki jaati hai. Aapka appeal khareej kiya jaata hai. Aap iske khilaaf supreme court main appeal dayar kar sakhte ho jiske liye aapko muft legal aid mil sakta hain.” Kasab did not say anything in response, but wore a faint smile throughout the proceedings.

Donning the jail uniform for death row convicts — a kurta pyjama — he sported a beard and closely cut hair. A horde of court and lawyers had gathered in the court room to catch a glimpse of Kasab when he was being sentenced. But unlike the previous encounters, the usually fidgety fidgety Kasab was more clam this time.

Prison sources said, “During the rest of the day too, Kasab kept to himself and did not even interact with the prison guards with whom he often has small conversations. It could be because of the gravity of the sentence slowly sinking in,” said a source at the jail.