Kasab should be hanged in public: Kavita Karkare

Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab should not be allowed to approach the Supreme Court and should be hanged publicly, says Kavita Karkare, wife of slain Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare.

Reacting to the special court awarding the death sentence to Kasab, Kavita said, "I don't think this is the end of the chapter of 26/11. This is just the beginning. Now we should hang Kasab publicly and we should not give him a chance to go to the Supreme Court". 

She said in the last 18 months, a lot of patience has been shown and a message conveyed to the entire world that India is a democratic and peaceful country. Her comments came amid concerns that it may take a long time for the legal process to be completed. Kasab can move the high court, the apex court and then seek clemency from the President.

She, however, said there were several questions which remain unanswered.

"I am happy with the court's verdict. Kasab will meet his fate for his deeds," Karkare told reporters today, hours after Additional Sessions Judge M L Tahaliyani pronounced the death sentence for Kasab.

However, Karkare said that she was not satisfied with the 'stories made-up' by the police over the missing bulletproof jacket, which Karkare had worn. She said that the police have still not been able to find out who actually killed her husband on the dreadful night of November 26, 2008.

"I think I am being misled. Neither the police nor the government is providing me with the facts as to who killed Hemant. I now feel that they have cooked stories about the missing bulletproof jacket," she said.

On May 3, while delivering the judgment, the court observed that Abu Ismail's bullet had killed Ashok Kamte. "But experts could not form an opinion as to whose bullet killed Karkare and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar," the court said.

"I am not accusing either the state government or the Mumbai police. But my point of contention is that I want true answers to the several questions that are still lingering in my mind," she added.