Mumbai:
"When they asked me in court 'Do you recognise the guy' I said 'How can I forget him'. He's the man who made me famous." Sebastian D'Souza isn't exaggerating. His photograph of Ajmal Kasab is how the world recognises the only terrorist caught alive during the 26/11 attacks.
Sebastian D'Souza, a Photo Editor with the Mumbai Mirror, was at his office near the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus when he heard a giant explosion. He rushed to the station, and saw two men mid-rampage, their bullets spraying passengers, shopkeepers who were trying their best to dodge them.
Since then, D'Souza has seen Kasab again, in court. "That day, he had a gun. He was like a king, he could do whatever he wanted. Now, he was like a small sheep, trapped. That day, his eyes were fiery. Now...a sad-looking guy."
D'Souza's images are now part of the trial, so powerful in capturing what happened that night that even Kasab has been taken aback by them. "He was inquisitive," reveals the photographer, adding, "When I showed his lawyers the pictures, he was bending over to see them. When he saw... he knew this was real evidence going against him. He felt sick, didn't know what to do. He started telling the judge- I want to go back to my cell. So the judge asked him what happened. You saw the pictures? Relax for a while, you will be ok. He started to cry."
Sebastian D'Souza, a Photo Editor with the Mumbai Mirror, was at his office near the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus when he heard a giant explosion. He rushed to the station, and saw two men mid-rampage, their bullets spraying passengers, shopkeepers who were trying their best to dodge them.
Since then, D'Souza has seen Kasab again, in court. "That day, he had a gun. He was like a king, he could do whatever he wanted. Now, he was like a small sheep, trapped. That day, his eyes were fiery. Now...a sad-looking guy."
D'Souza's images are now part of the trial, so powerful in capturing what happened that night that even Kasab has been taken aback by them. "He was inquisitive," reveals the photographer, adding, "When I showed his lawyers the pictures, he was bending over to see them. When he saw... he knew this was real evidence going against him. He felt sick, didn't know what to do. He started telling the judge- I want to go back to my cell. So the judge asked him what happened. You saw the pictures? Relax for a while, you will be ok. He started to cry."
