News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » News » Judge recalls Kandahar hijack, says can't keep Kasab alive

Judge recalls Kandahar hijack, says can't keep Kasab alive

By Sheela Bhatt
Last updated on: May 06, 2010 17:08 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Judge M L Tahaliyani, while listing out the reasons why he was not sentencing 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab to life but awarding him the death sentence instead, invoked the Kandahar hijack of December 24, 1999, when Indian Airlines flight IC-814 was forcibly taken to Afghanistan to secure the release of three hardcore terrorists in Kashmir.

Saying that keeping the accused Kasab alive is "a constant danger to society" and a "danger in itself", judge Tahaliyani cited the Kandahar hijack case as an example.

"Because of one person in prison, a plane was hijacked," he recalled.

"It would be difficult for the Indian government to keep Kasab alive," he added.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Sheela Bhatt in Mumbai