I am getting bored in jail, says Kasab

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the terror siege in Mumbai in November last year, on Wednesday requested the special court hearing the 26/11 attack case to provide him books as he was 'bored' in jail.

"I am bored and need books to read," Kasab told Judge M L Tahaliyani.

Kasab, currently lodged in the highly-guarded Arthur Road Jail, said either the court should provide him books or allow him to buy them from his money seized by the police at the time of his arrest last year.

Earlier, Kasab told the judge that he wanted to speak to his lawyer Abbas Kazmi, which was allowed by the court.

Later, when the judge inquired about the matter, Kazmi said, "Kasab needs books to read. He is feeling bored in his cell".

Kasab then stood up and told the judge in Hindi, "Sir, please give me books or allow me to buy them from my money".

The court told him that this would not be possible because his money (seized by the police) has now become Mudemal (property of the court) as the trial was in progress.

The police had seized Rs 4,580 from Kasab at the time of his arrest. Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam asked Kasab, "Now, what is the use of reading books"?

Advocate Kazmi later told the court that he would provide books in Urdu to Kasab. The court had earlier rejected Kasab's plea to read Urdu newspapers in jail. Kazmi had then provided four story books in Urdu to Kasab through the jail superintendent.

"He has finished reading them and wants to read more such books," Kazmi told the court.

In another development, the court allowed co-accused Faheem Ansari to meet his wife for two to three minutes every day during lunch time and for ten minutes every Thursday. Earlier, the court had rejected Faheem's plea for mulakat (meeting) with his wife during lunch time.

Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam opposed Faheem' plea for meeting his wife every day, saying the jail authorities may not allow that. The court then said that the accused was in its custody and the jail authorities had no reason to object to such a practice.