This Article is From Jun 05, 2009

26/11 trial: Witness identifies Qasab in court

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Mumbai:

Witnesses at the Qasab trial on Friday clearly identified him as the man who killed Tukaram Ombale, the man who the entire nation hailed as a martyr and a hero after he took on the terrorists unarmed.

The last moments of 26/11 martyr Tukaram Ombale recounted in court by the constable who was part of the police team that captured Qasab.

"We spotted a car coming towards us. We shouted and asked it to stop. The car stopped 50 feet from the barricade. We asked the driver to turn on the inside lights. He ignored our warning and started the wiper spray making it difficult to see inside. The driver started the car and attempted a U-turn, but the divider prevented him. I and six others rushed and surrounded the car. Two people inside the car raised their hands in surrender.

When I approached the driver's side, the driver started firing at me. I fired back. The person was injured. The person sitting next to him, opened the door, leaped out of the car and flattened himself on the road," recounted witness in the court.

ASI Tukaram Ombale and API Sanjay Govilkar moved towards the car. The person who got out of the car fired at Ombale then Ombale pounced on him.

Ombale and Govilkar sustained injuries because of the firing. Other members of the team assaulted the terrorist and took him into custody.

On Friday Ombale identified Qasab.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to constable: Are the terrorists in the courtroom?

Constable: One of them, he is the one.

When Ombale was identifying him, Qasab simply kept smiling. His lawyer says too much should not be read into the expression because he does not understand the proceedings.

Qasab's lawyer now stands accused of trying to delay the trial after refusing to accept documentary evidence and forcing witness to be called in.

"This was also the tactic used in the 1993 blasts case and that case took so long," said Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor.

On Monday, Kazmi will have his chance to discredit this witness but he will have to be careful not to tarnish a martyr's memory.

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