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Mumbai gunman 'should be hanged' Mumbai gunman 'should be hanged'
(about 8 hours later)
The sole surviving gunman who attacked the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) in 2008 should be hanged, prosecutors say.The sole surviving gunman who attacked the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) in 2008 should be hanged, prosecutors say.
"It would be a mockery of justice if the death penalty is not imposed," chief prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said."It would be a mockery of justice if the death penalty is not imposed," chief prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, a Pakistani aged 22, was found guilty on Monday of charges including murder, waging war on India and possessing explosives.Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, a Pakistani aged 22, was found guilty on Monday of charges including murder, waging war on India and possessing explosives.
The attacks left 174 people - including nine other gunmen - dead and soured relations between India and Pakistan.The attacks left 174 people - including nine other gunmen - dead and soured relations between India and Pakistan.
India blames Pakistan-based militants Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks.India blames Pakistan-based militants Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks.
After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the attacks had been partially planned on its territory and that Qasab was one of its citizens.After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the attacks had been partially planned on its territory and that Qasab was one of its citizens.
'Killing machine''Killing machine'
On Tuesday Mr Nikam, the public prosecutor, spent more than two hours arguing that Qasab should be given the death penalty, the BBC's Prachi Pinglay in court in Mumbai says.On Tuesday Mr Nikam, the public prosecutor, spent more than two hours arguing that Qasab should be given the death penalty, the BBC's Prachi Pinglay in court in Mumbai says.
MOHAMMAD AJMAL AMIR QASAB Pakistani citizen from Punjab provinceReports say he received little education, and spent his youth alternating between labouring and petty crimeIndia says he was trained for Mumbai operation by Lashkar-e-Taiba group in a remote campCaptured on camera at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a slight figure in combat trousers and a sweatshirt, clutching an assault rifleProsecutors said he had confessed but his lawyers then said his statement had been coerced, and it was retracted href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8658066.stm">Deadpan amid media frenzy href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8658038.stm">Deadlock over attack 'masterminds' Biswas: What it means for India MOHAMMAD AJMAL AMIR QASAB Pakistani citizen from Punjab provinceReports say he received little education, and spent his youth alternating between labouring and petty crimeIndia says he was trained for Mumbai operation by Lashkar-e-Taiba group in a remote campCaptured on camera at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a slight figure in combat trousers and a sweatshirt, clutching an assault rifleProsecutors said he had confessed but his lawyers then said his statement had been coerced, and it was retracted href="/2/hi/south_asia/8658066.stm">Deadpan amid media frenzy href="/2/hi/south_asia/8658038.stm">Deadlock over attack 'masterminds' Biswas: What it means for India
"He is an agent of the devil himself, a disgrace to society and the entire human race," Mr Nikam said."He is an agent of the devil himself, a disgrace to society and the entire human race," Mr Nikam said.
He described Qasab as a "killing machine who has no human feeling" and said a life sentence would leave India "a soft target" for extremists.He described Qasab as a "killing machine who has no human feeling" and said a life sentence would leave India "a soft target" for extremists.
He said Qasab's crimes involved "focused, meticulous and detailed" planning to kill police officers and civilians.He said Qasab's crimes involved "focused, meticulous and detailed" planning to kill police officers and civilians.
Qasab is expected to be sentenced on Thursday. His lawyer told the court he should receive a sentence of life imprisonment because he was young and had fallen under the influence of Lashkar-e-Taiba.Qasab is expected to be sentenced on Thursday. His lawyer told the court he should receive a sentence of life imprisonment because he was young and had fallen under the influence of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Qasab remained silent throughout Tuesday's proceedings, our correspondent says.Qasab remained silent throughout Tuesday's proceedings, our correspondent says.
India's media hailed the verdict as "honourable", and said the acquittal of two Indians accused of helping the gunmen proved police had made a "poor case" of it.India's media hailed the verdict as "honourable", and said the acquittal of two Indians accused of helping the gunmen proved police had made a "poor case" of it.
The Hindu newspaper said that the judgement would "not grant closure" to survivors and families of victims of the attacks.The Hindu newspaper said that the judgement would "not grant closure" to survivors and families of victims of the attacks.
"This is because key conspirators, helped by a half-hearted investigation in Pakistan, are yet to face a court of law," the newspaper said."This is because key conspirators, helped by a half-hearted investigation in Pakistan, are yet to face a court of law," the newspaper said.
The paper said the verdict was a "tribute to the independence of the Indian judicial system and its ability to deliver justice dispassionately".The paper said the verdict was a "tribute to the independence of the Indian judicial system and its ability to deliver justice dispassionately".
According to the Times of India the verdict was "unlikely to be the end of the matter".According to the Times of India the verdict was "unlikely to be the end of the matter".
The newspaper said prosecutors planned to challenge the acquittals and that Qasab's lawyer could also contest his client's conviction.The newspaper said prosecutors planned to challenge the acquittals and that Qasab's lawyer could also contest his client's conviction.
Proceedings in the Mumbai trial have gone on for 14 months.Proceedings in the Mumbai trial have gone on for 14 months.
Late last year, Pakistan charged seven people in connection with the attacks, including the suspected mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is alleged to head Lashkar-e-Taiba.Late last year, Pakistan charged seven people in connection with the attacks, including the suspected mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is alleged to head Lashkar-e-Taiba.