Saw Kasab,partner come out of Cama,did not follow them: cop

The witness,who was acting senior police inspector of the police station,had posted himself outside Cama Hospital gate when his senior Sadanand Date was engaging the terrorists on the terrace of the hospital.

Replying to the court’s questions,Thoravde said,“There was a need for someone to be outside the hospital. I wasn’t aware of Date’s instructions to everyone to reach the hospital after collecting bulletproof vests,arms and ammunition. I knew the hospital was covered from all the sides,but when we came out of the police station we found nobody on Mahapalika Marg. So we took position there.”

Thoravde saw the terrorists come out of the hospital and pass by before they went on to kill three senior police officers in Rang Bhavan lane. He said,“I fired six rounds at them when they came out of Cama Hospital. My junior Sunil Kadam also fired one round but his pistol jammed. The terrorists retaliated. Around the same time,a constable arrived on a bike with an officer on the pillion. The officer got down and the gunmen fired at them. I also saw the terrorists lob a handgrenade at a government vehicle before entering Rang Bhavan lane.”

When the court asked Thoravde why he had not followed them,he said,“They had automatic weapons and we were short of ammunition and my men had to take the injured constable to Bombay hospital. Soon after we saw the terrorists entering Rang Bhavan lane,I along with Kadam,walked towards Metro Cinema,” he said.

Thoravde had not disclosed this incident earlier as his deposition had been related to incidents inside Cama Hospital and no questions had been specifically put to him about the battle with terrorists.