Win some,lose some

Date was involved in a fierce gun battle with the terrorists on the top floor of Cama Hospital and had repeatedly asked for backup. Control room records show reinforcements had been sent,but they did not reach Date and are believed to have remained in the vicinity. Some policemen who testified in the trial had also confirmed this.

Senior officers did not seem to be in agreement with the court’s observations and said they stood by the decisions that were taken and their reaction to the crisis as it unfolded.

“The reaction to the situation at Cama Hospital was proper and not delayed. As soon as it was known that Date needed reinforcements to tackle the two gunmen there,a large number of men were deployed to the area by the Control Room. Date put himself on the line while fighting the terrorists. Everyone was doing the best that they could at the time,” said a senior Mumbai Police officer.

Another top officer,speaking on condition of anonymity said,“At one stage more than 130 policemen were deployed as reinforcements near Cama Hospital. How many more men could have been sent? Our officers were taking fire from Kasab and his partner,who were also lobbing grenades from time to time.”

Date,the man at the centre of the action at Cama Hospital,refused to comment after the verdict.

Home Minister R R Patil said the state government would approach the Centre seeking the extradition of the 20 Pakistani nationals convicted by the special court and examine whether any lapses in framing charges led to the acquittal of Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed.

Welcoming the verdict on Kasab,he said the state government would seek the maximum punishment under the IPC for him. Asked if the state would seek capital punishment,Patil said the law provided that an accused convicted under these sections could be handed the death penalty.

Patil said Ansari and Ahmed had been given the benefit of doubt and added that the government would examine the final judgment. He said investigating officers and lawyers had said they had evidence against them. Patil said the duo had been nabbed by the Uttar Pradesh police and added that they would examine on what grounds the duo had been acquitted and decide on the appeal “within two to three days.”

“We will comment on behalf of the government after reading the judgment…The investigating officers and the lawyers say there is ample evidence,” said Patil,adding the decision on appealing against the acquittal would be taken after legal advice.

“The conspiracy has been proved… We will try to ensure that those who participated in the conspiracy and are in Pakistan will be brought to India and will be punished in India,” said Patil.