Process complete, secrecy about hanging was key: Shinde
22 Nov 2012 7:03 AM IST
India had informed in advance Pakistan and the family members of Ajmal Kasab about the decision to hang the 2008 Mumbai attack terrorist but Islamabad refused to acknowledge the letter, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on Wednesday.
‘The External Affairs Ministry through our mission in Islamabad had informed the Pakistan government about Kasab’s hanging. When they did not accept the letter, they were communicated through fax,’ Shinde told reporters here, hours after the hanging of the only captured terrorist in the attack.
Union Home Secretary R K Singh said family members of Kasab, had also been informed by Indian High Commission in Islamabad. ‘His family members were communicated through courier by our High Commission. We have the receipt of the courier sent and that was later given to the Maharashtra government,’ Singh said.
Shinde said so far no one has claimed the body of 25-year-old Kasab and if Pakistan claims it, India would give it to the neighbouring country. ‘I do not think there will be any trouble (if Kasab is buried in India) because India has suffered too much and everyone.... and this country has seen the tragedy. 166 people were killed during three days of the carnage’ that began on 26 Nov, 2008, he said.
Giving the sequence of events leading to the execution this morning, Shinde said the Home Ministry had recommended to the President that he should reject Kasab’s mercy petition. ‘The President rejected the mercy petition on 5 Nov. I signed it on 7 Nov and on 8 Nov, the Maharashtra govt had been communicated to take action. It was decided that he would be executed on 21 Nov at 7.30 am and accordingly the whole process has been completed on Wednesday,’ Shinde said, adding secrecy was key.
‘The External Affairs Ministry through our mission in Islamabad had informed the Pakistan government about Kasab’s hanging. When they did not accept the letter, they were communicated through fax,’ Shinde told reporters here, hours after the hanging of the only captured terrorist in the attack.
Union Home Secretary R K Singh said family members of Kasab, had also been informed by Indian High Commission in Islamabad. ‘His family members were communicated through courier by our High Commission. We have the receipt of the courier sent and that was later given to the Maharashtra government,’ Singh said.
Shinde said so far no one has claimed the body of 25-year-old Kasab and if Pakistan claims it, India would give it to the neighbouring country. ‘I do not think there will be any trouble (if Kasab is buried in India) because India has suffered too much and everyone.... and this country has seen the tragedy. 166 people were killed during three days of the carnage’ that began on 26 Nov, 2008, he said.
Giving the sequence of events leading to the execution this morning, Shinde said the Home Ministry had recommended to the President that he should reject Kasab’s mercy petition. ‘The President rejected the mercy petition on 5 Nov. I signed it on 7 Nov and on 8 Nov, the Maharashtra govt had been communicated to take action. It was decided that he would be executed on 21 Nov at 7.30 am and accordingly the whole process has been completed on Wednesday,’ Shinde said, adding secrecy was key.
Next Story
