‘Kasab appears resigned to his fate’

MUMBAI - Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the sole survivor from the 10 Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai 26/11, appears resigned to his fate and says he will “reap as he sowed”, Maharshtra Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse said Tuesday after a visit to the Arthur Road Jail.

Khadse, along with state Home Minister R.R. Patil, surveyed the Arthur Road Central Jail where Kasab is lodged in the afternoon.

We had not gone to see or meet Kasab specifically, but it happened since he is also kept there, Khadse told IANS after the visit.

The duo enquired of Kasab whether he was getting proper food, treatment and care, to which he replied in the affirmative, Khadse said.

I asked him whether he felt repentful for his actions of 26/11, and Kasab said that he would reap as he had sowed, and he appears resigned to his fate, Khadse said.

Both Patil and Khadse said that Kasab spoke to them respectfully, quite unlike the tantrums he was known to throw in the past at jail officials, security personnel or lawyers.

The two had gone to survey the prison in the wake of gangwars that had erupted inside the jail on two separate occasions a few months ago.

Khadse said their visit followed a discussion in the state legislature on the facilities in the jail, which is overcrowded and plagued by shortage of security personnel.

For a capacity of accommodating only 781 inmates, the jail houses over 2,000 prisoners and the security staff strength is barely one-third of the sanctioned and required personnel.