26/11 witness wants Kasab to be punished soon

This 27-year-old hotelier has by now reconciled himsself with the initial fear and memories of the near-death experience. Over six months after the incident,Arasa says he is not nervous of facing Kasab in the court. “When I face him (Kasab) in the court,I won’t get scared. As of now I’m confident. But in the court it could be unsettling,” Arasa said.

So far,he or his friend,who had also seen Kasab,haven’t received any official communiqué,asking them to be present in the court for the trial,he said.

Earlier in January,police had called Arasa for an identification parade,which was an “unnerving” experience for him. “The waiting period prior to Kasab being brought before me for the identification was unnerving. It brought back memories of the horrific incident. I actually wanted to slap him,though it wasn’t possible,” Arasa said.

Though the Skoda Laura has been handed over to his father Ramesh Arasa,Sharan doesn’t drive it often. “The car has been repaired,with no traces of the bullet marks or anything. The seats,which had bullet marks,will be repaired in a couple of days. But I don’t use it. I use another car. Occasionally,when there’s no driver,I do use that car to drop dad. The uncomfortable feeling in using the car has died now,” he said with a smile.

Arasa and two friends were going to the Oberoi Hotel to meet a friend who had been evacuated after reports of firing. The Arasas had earlier expressed their desire to sell the ‘terror-car’. Subsequently,before releasing the car,the court had sought an undertaking from the owner (Ramesh) that the car will not be sold.

However,Arasa now feels enraged at our legal system for its lengthy procedures to convict the accused. “I feel so angry when I read newspapers that Kasab is unremorseful and keeps grinning and smiling as if he is enjoying it…and our system is making him comfortable,” he said.

He said the trial should be conducted as soon as possible so that not much of the tax- payers’ money will be wasted to keep Kasab in safe custody.