Jail authorities ensured Kasab's hanging went smoothly

Vicky Nanjappa reports on the procedures adopted by the Yerwada jail authorities ahead of Ajmal Kasab's execution.

The execution of Ajmal Kasab was a discreet affair.

Sources tell Rediff.com that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist was in isolation for the past two days. There was high security outside his cell and his condition was being monitored all the time.

His cell was kept free of all objects as jail authorities did not want him to injure himself.

Two days prior to the execution, he was informed about the formalities prior to the hanging.

Kasab was told he had exhausted all rights of appeal and that the date and time had been fixed for his execuution.

Before being taken to the gallows, his face was hooded and as per procedure he was not allowed to see the gallows.

Since Kasab weighed over 60 kilograms, it was a drop of 7 feet or 2.2 metres. The manner in which the noose was knotted depended on the convict's weight.

For the officials there could have been no room for error.

The noose was prepared two days ago and the lever was checked over and over again to get the execution right.

Great care was taken to prepare the noose. Clarified butter, soap and squashed banana were applied to the rope made of cotton yarn to make it smooth.