Death penalty confirmed for Mumbai terror gunman_美文

Death penalty confirmed for Mumbai terror gunman

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India's Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed the death sentence handed down to Mohammed Kasab, the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed.

Pakistan-born Kasab, one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to India's financial capital in attacks that lasted nearly three days, had appealed against the sentence claiming that he had not received a fair trial.

"We are left with no option but to award death penalty," the two judges said in a court order. "The primary and foremost offense committed by Kasab is waging war against the government of India."

Kasab, who is currently held in a maximum-security prison in Mumbai, was found guilty on charges including waging war, murder and terrorist acts, and was sentenced to death in May 2010.

After losing his Supreme Court petition, Kasab is expected to lodge a final appeal for clemency with new President Pranab Mukherjee, who has another 11 cases to consider.

Only one execution has taken place in India in 15 years - that of a former security guard hanged in 2004 for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.

"The best possible points were put forward dispassionately on behalf of the accused," state prosecutor Gopal Subramanium told reporters. "They have been considered and the court ultimately dismissed the appeal."

Ujjwal Nikam, who led the case against Kasab throughout the trial process, called on the death sentence to be carried out "as soon as possible so that it gives a strong signal to terrorists".