Security men who guarded Kasab await relieving orders

The over 200 security personnel guarding 26/11 attacker Mohammad Amir Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged to death on Wednesday, are still waiting to be relieved of their duties from the Arthur road jail.

The over 200 security personnel guarding 26/11 attacker Mohammad Amir Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged to death on Wednesday, are still waiting to be relieved of their duties from the Arthur road jail. Logically there is no need for their presence there, the guards are awaiting orders from the government.

The security personnel that guarded Kasab’s high security cell at Arthur road included Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) commandoes and personnel from the local police and city crime branch.

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When questioned if the security staff has been phased out, as Kasab was no longer at the prison, Inspector General (prisons) Vinod Lokhande said, The security staff has not been taken off as yet, as there is a due procedure that needs to be followed for the same. The process has been initiated and the security staff will be taken off soon.”

An official clarified that while the guards have not been relieved as yet, there are no longer part of the security ring that had been formed around Kasab’s cell, when he was lodged there.

Explaining how the procedure works, a jail official talking on condition of anonymity said that for the ITBP staff to be withdrawn, an order would need to come from the central government following which the staff will be relieved.