Kasab's statement not confession but admission of guilt: Judge

The special court trying the lone surviving terrorist in 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, MohammedAjmal Kasab, on Tuesday said the Pakistani gunman's statement pleading guilty before it was not a confession but an admission of guilt.

Judge M L Tahaliyani said Kasab's statement before the court was "broadly speaking not a confession but an admission of guilt."

Tahaliyani's observation came after Kasab concluded his version of events related to November 26 terror strikes.

In a dramatic turn of events, Kasab on Monday confessed to his involvement in the terror strikes at CST and other locations, apart from giving a detailed description of his training by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan.

Kasab was free to plead guilty at any point of time during the course of the trial, the court observed.

The court would need to verify whether Kasab was genuinely pleading his guilt as there were many charges against him, Judge Tahaliyani said.

The court could then accept or reject Kasab's statement or accept his plea and continue with the trial, the judge said.

Kasab, who was caught alive during the Mumbai attacks, had already recorded a confession before a magistrate but later withdrew it alleging it was obtained through coercion by police.

Hang Kasab publicly, says Bal Thackeray

Mumbai: Reiterating his demand that Ajmal Kasab be hanged publicly, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Thursday said the Pakistani gunman's admission of guilt in 26/11 attack case won't deter the neighbouring country from sending more terrorists into India. Those who think that

Kasab's confession is a victory are living in a fool's paradise. Kasab's confession won't stop Pakistan from sending more terrorists, Thackeray said in an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Like Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, we see the likelihood of Kasab spending the rest of his life in a jail, even if the court sentences him to death, he said.

It is our national policy to keep Kasab alive to protect Muslim sentiments, the Sena leader added.

"There is public demand that he should be hanged near the Gateway of India as that would be a befitting tribute to 26/11 Mumbai attack victims," Thackeray said