26/11 terrorist Kasab is an adult, rules judge

Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab is a major, aged at least 21, Special Judge M.L. Tahilyani, who is conducting the Mumbai terror attacks trial, ruled here on Saturday.

Observing that Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, prime accused in the Mumbai terror attack, is not a minor, a Special Court today ruled it had the jurisdiction to try him.

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Judge M L Tahiliyani accepted the evidence tendered by jail Superintendent Swati Sathe and Dr V Ramamurthy that Kasab
had informed them that his age was 21 years.

The Judge also took into consideration Ossification (bone) and dental test reports which indicated that he was above 20 years of age.

"I am made to believe by the witnesses examined that the accused was 21 years at the time of attack and his date of
birth is September 13, as mentioned by him to jailer of Arthur Road and the doctor who examined him," the Judge said.

In a related development, the court rejected Kasab's plea for X-ray plates to seek medical opinion regarding his age.
The Judge observed that this opportunity was given to his lawyer Abbas Kazmi earlier, but he did not opt for it.