July 30, 2010  Print Email | Mumbai suspect appears in court via video link
Kasab needs a lawyer
Posted by Agencies at 11:56 AM GMT on Mar 23, 2009 | MUMBAI (AFP): Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman, also known as Kasab, the only Islamist militant suspect captured by police during the Mumbai attacks told an Indian court today that he was from Pakistan.
He also asked for a court-appointed lawyer to defend him.
Kasab, appeared before special judge ML Tahiliyani via video link from the Mumbai jail where he is being housed in a high-security cell. Dressed in a grey T-shirt, the bearded Iman, asked by the court if he wanted a lawyer for the trial, replied, "If there will be a trial then I will need a lawyer."
Iman, who faces charges including murder, attempted murder and "waging war against India" over the attacks that killed 165 people, told the court he was a resident of Faridkot in the Punjab area of Pakistan.
The 21-year-old Iman was the only alleged member of the 10-man hardline commando-type unit captured alive during the November 26-29 siege.
The attacks soured a five-year peace process between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan as New Delhi blamed the assault on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and "official agencies" in Pakistan, a reference to the country's spy service.
Iman, who is reported to have received anonymous death threats, was not produced in court for security reasons.
After being told the judge who was conducting the hearing would preside over the trial, Iman smiled and replied with the traditional Indian Hindu greeting "Namaste."
The prosecution has asked the court to postpone the trial to April 13 in order to ready a special high security court in Arthur Road jail.
The charges filed against Iman were also filed against two alleged accomplices, Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, both Indian nationals, who police believe gave logistical support to the attackers.
The charge sheet against the three men totals a massive 11,280 pages.
Some 165 people were killed and 308 injured when 10 gunmen arrived in Mumbai by boat and attacked a string of targets including luxury hotels, a crowded railway station, a cafe and a Jewish centre.
Both the LeT and Pakistan have denied involvement, although Islamabad has admitted the attacks were planned partly in Pakistan and filed a case against eight suspects.
Pakistan at first dismissed reports that Iman was a Pakistani but later acknowledged he was.
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