I wanted to wipe the grin off Kasab’s face

On April 15, reporters from across the world mobbed outside the fortress-like court in the Arthur Road Jail to see the face of terror. Most of us had only seen the photograph of the 21-year-old Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist who survived the war on Mumbai.
I managed to enter the court after walking across a heavily guarded passage. This passage connected the court and Kasab’s cell. Additional sessions judge ML Tahaliyani was already seated. The prosecutors, defence advocates were ready to begin the trial. Kasab came, grinning. I wanted to wipe that grin off his face. Both his hands were held by policemen who wore bullet-proof jackets and riot helmets.

Wearing a grey T-shirt and blue three-quarter pants, sporting a stubble, Kasab could have passed off as a pesky teenager being punished for breaking a window. It was disconcerting to hear a comment that he had a cute face.

When the judge asked Kasab if he knew who his lawyer was, he pointed to a lady clerk. When the judge pointed to advocate Anjali Waghmare, Kasab said cockily, “Oh I forgot.”

It looked to me as though Kasab thought the trial was a game, a ritual leading to his denouement. He didn’t seem scared of death. But the witnesses who had faced his bullets seemed to make an impact on him. When a 10-year old girl pointed a finger at him, it seemed to hurt him.

But as the trial progressed, the insolent grin disappeared from his face. He began to hang his head. He says he is ready to be hanged. He wants a quick end to the trial. But it is not over yet.