‘Kasab was told to hold as many hostages as possible’

Convicted Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Ajmal Amir Kasab and his companions were instructed by their Pakstani handlers to hold as many hostages as possible during the 26/11 terror attacks to demand from the Government of India the creation of a separate state for Muslims.

Convicted Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Ajmal Amir Kasab and his companions were instructed by their Pakstani handlers to hold as many hostages as possible during the 26/11 terror attacks to demand from the Government of India the creation of a separate state for Muslims.

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This was disclosed on Friday by special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam in the Bombay High Court, which is hearing a reference for confirmation of death sentence to Kasab.

The perpetrators of the carnage had advised the attackers to take VIPs as hostages to compel Indian government to fulfill their demands for a separate state for Muslims in India and liberation of Kashmir, Nikam said while justifying Kasab's conviction on the charge of "waging war against the nation."

Nikam said the fact was revealed from the intercepts of telephonic conversation between the attackers and their Pakistani handlers. He said the handlers had also told the attackers to identify themselves as Indian Muslims.