Justice.
Ajmal Kasab is to be hung by the neck until dead. As India rejoices, I don’t.
On December 26th 2008, I felt uncontrollable anger like every other person in the world did. For 60 hours, 10 people held 1.1 billion people to ransom. Well, almost. Tried, convicted and sentenced to death in the Indian judicial system, the media claims this to be a victory for the judicial system and the Indian democracy.
I believe no one should rejoice death: and definitely not one that is meted out forcefully. However hardened a criminal he might be. I don’t believe anyone has a right to decide who should live and who shouldn’t: not terrorists, not the government, no one. What happened in Mumbai was despicable. I do not, in any way, condone 26/11. I believe Kasab is a rogue, blinded by faith. I believe he should be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life. Imprisonment for the next 40-50 years is harsher than death in a few minutes. I’m not a fan of the death penalty. I know the objection people have to this. What if another IC 814-kind incident happens? One, this is entirely hypothetical. Two, this is not a reason to kill anyone. And three, it shows the kind of confidence we have in our national security system.
I also believe Kasab is a puppet. The real problem is not him. The real problem lies in the governments of both countries. The other day, I was watching ‘The Big Fight’ on NDTV. One member of the audience pointed out that if Kasab should be hanged, so should Narendra Modi. I believe that in terms of barbarity, Narendra Modi = Ajmal Kasab. Only difference is that Modi is home-grown; Kasab is foreign. Vikram Chandra, the host (who is almost as annoying as Prannoy Roy and Sonia Verma Singh), did not let him speak. The media is so intertwined with shaping the mindset of the people that it’s impossible to get unbiased news today.
Yes, I agree that the families of 26/11 victims have suffered a LOT (this is an understatement). I can understand their urge to kill one of the men responsible for that. Let me also put forth stories of a few Muslim families in Kashmir, bludgeoned by the Indian army. Little kids at the age of four and five can identify by the mere sound of everyday explosions, whether it was an AK-47, a hand grenade, a bomb, or a pistol that caused it. The same kids, at the age of fourteen and fifteen, as they grow beards, are picked up by the army and thrown into jail over accusations of trying to collude with Pakistan. The army guarantees compensation for families who have had their kids killed in attacks. One Muslim family had their two-year old kid killed in an Indian army-sponsored attack in Kashmir. Two years on, the father goes to the local government office every single day for his compensation. He is driven away everyday, citing some ridiculous reason. What about those families’ sentiments? If neither of us stops, this will continue forever. One of us has to have humanity. One of us should stop. We’re sensible, and we should.
The real problem is not Ajmal Kasab. It is state-sponsored terrorism in India and Pakistan. Don’t kill him. Imprison him for life. Make sure he doesn’t escape. If another IC 814 happens, storm the plane and rescue the passengers. Show us how capable the Indian army really is. Stop killing people in Kashmir. Do justice to the people of the country: us.
Something Fresh 
hey ! nice blog and i used to agree with ur point of view until this very case ..infact i used the think the same, that no one has the ryte to forcefully end someone’s life .rather that u don slap someone back because they slapped u first. but then again,i believe that d decision taken was right for one reason that people shud not take our tolerance and sentiments for granted. this is not a situation of what is right morally. this is a situation of proving to the world that we as a country are capable of meeting out justice to those families who have suffered the loss head on and ppl can’t jus walkin and target us. yes, the fact that some situations r hypothetical is ryte but trusting our security system is a very idealistic view and that wil take a long long time to become a reality .
Rujuta
May 12, 2010 at 12:01 am
I believe in making an example in such cases. He shouldn’t just be hung by the neck, he should be brought out in the open and shot by a firing squad of the Mumbai police. The his body should be thrown across the border.
Narendra Modi instigated and incited the Godhra riots. We all know he did, but what is needed is strong proof. Just ‘knowing’ it is not enough. That’s why he was summoned a month back by the SIT (special investigation task force).
Kashmir is a tragedy, but is not an excuse for Ajmal Kasab. Or thousands like him.
State sponsored terrorism is a problem, but if you can’t stop that, at least make sure the next Kasab knows the consequences.
piscianemperor
May 12, 2010 at 8:01 am
Okay, I knew this post would be controversial.
@ Rujuta:
Why do we have to prove anything to the world? We’ve already proved that people CAN just walk in and target us and kill us. Hanging Kasab is not going to change that one bit.
@ piscianemperor:
I don’t believe in that kind of violence. It will only instigate terrorists more. Let’s not be like they are.
The SIT is a joke. They have been trying to corroborate Modi’s statements all along, rather than find out what actually happened. Narendra Modi is a terrorist. Period.
The next Kasab is not going to stop himself because of what happened to this one. He’s going to come no matter what because of what our government does to Muslims in Kashmir. Unless one of us stops, this WILL continue. We WILL have another terrorist attack whether Kasab is killed or not. However he is killed.
Fez
May 12, 2010 at 8:46 am
yeah i agree wid u that public violence is just not justified …neither do i believe we have to rejoice cz kasab has been given a death sentence ..infact its sad that anyone can do something so heinous that he has to be hanged..
Rujuta
May 12, 2010 at 11:34 am
@Fez
The next terrorist will come, no matter what- whether there is anything done in Kashmir or not. There can be plenty of reasons. If there was no Kashmir, they would say its Ayodhya.
Well, I have a question for you.
Would you honestly, still be so big-hearted if it was your loved one who was shot dead by Kasab, or someone shot you in the leg and you are crippled for life? Would you still say- ok, there’s nothing wrong with the guy, he’s just a misguided kid, and the system is all wrong. Well, don’t know about you, but I definitely wouldn’t be !!
piscianemperor
May 12, 2010 at 7:37 pm
@piscianemperor: Wow @ your first sentence.
I don’t think he should be hanged either. I think he should be locked up for life, and the reality is death does not SCARE terrorists. They are not terrified of the idea of being killed. They feel that they are doing this for their country. Strangely enough a lot of them are brainwashed with the mindset that they are “brave” individuals sacrificing their lives for the sake of their own country.
I hate to sound disgusting, but death is an escape from the reality. Imagine having to live your life with guilt and regret. Obviously as terrorists they won’t be guilty for their actions, but they have to spend their life in prison for years having to live with their actions and face the consequences, which in my opinion is much harder than opting for death.
Anyway leaving that aside whether it is hard or not considering humanity I think he shouldn’t be hanged to death either. As it is he is not afraid of death, and neither will be the next Kasab. Killing him is just wrong! I personally believe in peace more than anything. Let’s NOT be savages. Just cus the world is horrible, and crazy doesn’t mean everyone in the world has to be horrible and crazy. You can be an exception.
Personally I think each of us considers death as the extreme end, and the worse possible thing that can happen, which is the reason a lot of people feel that death should be the punishment. To terrorists it’s not.
Mia
May 12, 2010 at 8:38 pm
@piscianemperor: Your question was directed at Fez.
But if every person is asked to consider their loved one, then I get defensive as hell about mine, and I know I wouldn’t be okay, but you know I would say? I would want to go in there, and beat the guy up! And I would say every family member gets to beat the guy up (this coming from a person that believes in peace, but I can’t help it I’m defensive as hell about family). I’ll still say don’t kill him, and instead keep him alive and let him FACE the consequences.
Mia
May 12, 2010 at 8:51 pm
@ Rujuta:
“infact its sad that anyone can do something so heinous that he has to be hanged”
Yeah true, that.
@ piscianemperor:
That question was the first thing I considered before I wrote this post. Let’s of course remember that this is entirely hypothetical so my opinions *could* change were something like this happen to me. You’d have to forgive me in that case. But as of now, I believe my opinion would remain exactly the same. I don’t think violence should be retaliated with violence. There’s something called humanity. If they can’t be human, we certainly should. If no one stops, this goes on forever. There’s a bigger picture than ‘me’.
@ Mia:
Glad someone agrees with me! Yeah, this is one thing I should have emphasized more clearly. They’re hardly afraid of death. What kind of point are we going to make by hanging him? If anything, we’re inciting them more.
“Instead keep him alive and let him FACE the consequences.” – Yeah, I think this is much worse than death. Life in jail is really, really bad.
Fez
May 12, 2010 at 11:05 pm
@Mia
Keeping him alive has its consequences. A piece of history for you:
In the 1980’s, after the storming of Golden temple, the Khalistan Movement was nearly at its fag end. One terrorist was kept in an Indian jail, having been sentenced to death, but his appeal for a lesser sentence was pending with the Supreme court. Now some guys in UK, kidnapped an Indian diplomat there, and threatened to kill him, unless their friend in India was released. Indira Gandhi, the who was the prime minister at that time, refused to yield to their demands. The Indian diplomat was shot dead by the guys in UK. Next day, Mrs. Gandhi held a cabinet meeting, and hung the terrorist immediately.
Remember the IC 814 hijacking? Well, Fez puts such a thing happening again as hypothetical, but hell yeah- its certainly more real than terrorism coming to an halt if India just gives up Kashmir.
“Living with his conscience is more horrible than death” is all fine. But what about all that money which is spent in keeping that piece of shit alive? Rs 4 lakh per day??? Again, I say, kill that guy. Like, right now.
And by the way- giving in, is not the way to fight terrorism. Do you guys actually think that Taliban will become all good if we give in to what they demand? What all will they demand, and what all do we give in to?
piscianemperor
May 13, 2010 at 8:13 am
Okay! First of all, very interesting post. Loved the way you put it. Cheers!
Coming to the Kasab issue, I personally think the reason he’s being hanged is the intensity of the crime he’s committed. We don’t want to prove anything to the world. But we don’t also want to send the wrong signals that “See! In India, the heinous crimes like these are spared.” Tomorrow, somebody else will come n shoot people at random. If he’s given death penalty for the crime, he’ll argue over the fact that Kasab was spared. It’s not violence against violence. It’s not even a revenge. It’s justice to the family of those who lost their someone in the attacks. The proper justice would be done if we took measures to get rid of terrorism. But that’s a hypothetical case, isn’t it?
And talking about hypotheses, you mention keeping “Kasab” alive and let the other “Kandahar” not happen? Do you think it’s that easy? Okay let’s assume that we won’t let other Kandahar happen! Yet, there’s no point keeping Kasab alive! It only costs a lot of money on his security and other things. And if you want him to be kept alive and be sent for life imprisonment so that he’ll feel guilty of his crimes all his life, that’s not gonna serve any purpose!
And sad that, we also have intrastate, interstate terrorism prevailing. As Rohan rightly mentioned, that’s not an excuse for Kasab to be spared.
Pratik
May 13, 2010 at 9:29 am
I hadn’t read all the comments before. Quite an insightful discussion there. I think, My views pretty much match to Rohan’s! Except, I don’t think, “Shooting him dead in public” is a choice. That’s moron and cruel. That shows revenge. That’s a loser thing to do, personally. No offence, Rohan! But if I had to kill someone dead in Public, it would be the mastermind of the attack, that someone who sent his 10 so-called warriors in Mumbai. Kasab was just a puppet for him. He din’t come to Kasab’s rescue. Nobody else from across the border did. That should send signals to the other militants.
And because he’s not afraid of the death is not an excuse/reason for us to spare him. He should be hanged, because we have to go by the law. Law should not show mercy to someone who shot 50 people dead.
Pratik
May 13, 2010 at 9:43 am
@ piscianemperor:
I’m not saying give up Kashmir. I’m saying stop our terrorism. It’s not highlighted enough what India does in Kashmir. A couple of books which have:
Curfewed Night – Bashrat Peer
Evidence of Suspicion – Amitava Kumar
I’m saying that if you want to kill Kasab, kill every Indian who has done the same thing to innocent civilians in Kashmir and the North-East. Why do you think people like Aldon hate being called Indians? Why does one mention of the army in Shillong be returned with a growl? Why is the Indian army any better than the armed terrorists? I believe we’re running away from the real problem, as we always have done since freedom.
No one from the Taliban has demanded that Kasab be spared. We’re not listening to their demands, this is my opinion from our side.
@ Pratik:
Lol! I knew it would attract a LOT of controversy!
No I’m not saying keep him alive so that he’ll feel guilty. I’m saying life imprisonment is a harsher punishment than death. If law should not show mercy to someone who shot 50 people dead, why is Narendra Modi still alive? Why is LK Advani still alive? If you wanted to kill the mastermind of the attack, would you also kill the ones who masterminded Godhra?
Militants not being afraid of death is not a reason to spare them, correct. But I only said that in response to comments that killing him will stop the next Kasab from coming over. That’s not going to happen.
Great discussion, thanks for the detailed comments! GIves me food for thought too : )
Fez
May 13, 2010 at 9:57 am
@piscianemperor: I remember the 1980’s incident and also the hijacking incident you mentioned like I remember watching the later on television. I see your point, but I still don’t see any reason to KILL the guy. As I said it’s an easy means out of the reality, and we talk about death, because we all are afraid of death. Death penalty INSTIGATES terrorists at times as well. How is this going to scare them off? If we have to keep them out of our country, then I say work with FEAR.
Let’s consider the other scenario say if they had Kasab in prison for a life sentence, then how does anyone know what is going on with him? We ourselves won’t know what’s going on, and I say start spreading false rumors in the media of what happens to him. Terrorists come mentally prepared with the thought of death in mind, but if they don’t know what they will be facing in prison, and there is an element of uncertainty filled with a lot of fear, then how will they prepare for it? A lot of people are afraid of the unknown.
I really don’t think they are as fearless as we think they are, and if this is going to keep these terrorists out of our country, and protect our country, then work with that unknown, and uncertainty factor to scare them off! It may or may not work, but at least it’s better than any one of them entering our country mentally prepared of the outcome of execution.
We don’t have to be brutal, and talk about killing that’s all I am saying. It doesn’t have to come down to death penalty. Granted this guy deserves no mercy, but do you honestly think this death penalty is going to stop the next Kasab? In fact a number of others might just be instigated and brainwashed by this and they will be mentally prepared about the idea of death penalty. That’s why I’m saying death penalty or for that death is not going to scare these people off, and at this point that’s what we have to do. TERRIFY THEM, so that they don’t have the GUTS to get in our country!
Mia
May 13, 2010 at 10:00 am
@Fez: Exactly! I forgot to write this but I like the point you mentioned on Modi. If it comes down to law and justice, then Modi better be hanged as well!
I have to say it’s fun to read the comment. Everyone here is highly opinionated, and that’s awesome.
Mia
May 13, 2010 at 10:15 am
I forgot to write something else.
“And by the way- giving in, is not the way to fight terrorism. Do you guys actually think that Taliban will become all good if we give in to what they demand? What all will they demand, and what all do we give in to?” – Who says we have to give in? Giving in or not is entirely our choice. These people can threaten or do anything they want, but we don’t have to give in, if we don’t want to. Also, you mentioned how the guys from the UK wanted that guy released. Why??? I don’t any reason why they would kidnap some guy, and threaten the government to release their friend. Again, this time I think it is fear. I’m sure they have to be afraid, and I say why not use this very fear against them? Keep these terrorists alive, and make sure these people are aware that threats are not going to work! They don’t know what we are doing with the terrorists and I bet somewhere that terrifies them.
Mia
May 13, 2010 at 10:21 am
I was kinda coming to that. Hang people like Modi, too. Let us not spare people for their crimes based on whether they’re Indians or not. It’s not that they kill Muslims or Hindus, Indians or Non-Indians. They kill humans and that’s a heinous heinous crime. I din’t mention Modi ‘coz that’s like delving into a different topic.
Your thoughts about “uncertainty” thing look genuine. In a nutshell, we’ve to think out of the box to scare off terrorists. As for Kasab, don’t expect him to become “wali(a serial killer) ka walmiki(one who wrote Ramayana)” as was in mythology. But if keeping him in life imprisonment is going to scare off others, then we should do so. I don’t see that working out well though
Pratik
May 13, 2010 at 10:57 am
@Fez
lol..this is like your most commented post till date, I guess :D Aldon hates being called Indian, because by and large most ‘indians’ call him chinese :P Yea, the army is also a issue. Everyone wants freedom. Free bodoland, free khalistan, free kashmir, free nagaland. Get my point now? Do we separate India into thousand small parts? And that will bring peace you say? Really?
@Mia
Haha…I still have the same opinion. Kill him :)
BTW, if I would have been personally affected, I wouldn’t definitely stop at ‘beating him up’ :D
@Pratik
Lol, offense not taken. Sounds barbarian, I know.
They wouldn’t actually do it, but I’ll like to see a day when terrorist violence is met with more violence. Because ultimately, the outcome is still the same. Across the border, some guy is still being instigated.
piscianemperor
May 13, 2010 at 11:02 am
@Pratik: I don’t see it working to a great extent either, but yeah I don’t think we should mentally prepare them for the out come :-)
@piscianemperor: Now I am curious to know what would you do? Don’t tell me you would kill the guy.
Mia
May 13, 2010 at 11:11 am
@Mia
Heh..Fez might throw a hissy fit if describe the violence that comes to my mind on his blog :D
piscianemperor
May 13, 2010 at 12:26 pm
@ Mia:
Yeah, I too like the way you put forth your uncertainty point. Very true.
@ Pratik:
We’re only asking to keep him in jail on humanitarian grounds, not to scare people off.
@ piscianemperor:
Haha WHAT?! When has Fez ever thrown a hissy fit about what’s written on his blog?!
No, the question is WHY the North-East states want freedom. Because of the atrocities we commit. If we hadn’t been brutal, they’d never have wanted freedom.
Fez
May 13, 2010 at 5:10 pm
@piscianemperor: Why, you actually sound more thoughtful over hissy fit than harming a terrorist! :D
I don’t think we will ever agree on this, because you are on the extreme end saying “terrorist violence should be dealt with more violence” and I don’t agree with it at all.
Check this book out: Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I don’t know if you read it or not or whether you will like it, but I really like the book, so I am biased. I read it 9 years back, and till date feel that it is an extremely accurate portrayal of the society. Also, please read the summary first, because you may not like the book.
@Fez: I don’t think it will stop the terrorists though. I like how you are convincing everyone on humanitarian grounds, and I say you do that, while I temporarily ship people from the piscianemperor camp. Haha, I doubt he will be moving from his camp any time soon, and he seems pretty fixed in his opinion, but if all else then we can hatch a plan of getting all the street dogs to camp outside his house for one day! :D
Mia
May 13, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Lol! What good will the street dogs do? From what I hear, they DO poop outside his house everyday though :D
You sound like a smuggler who’s gonna keep shippin’ illegal goods over, while I distribute ’em out! Like the Godfather \m/
Fez
May 14, 2010 at 12:06 pm
@Fez
Yeah well dude, I’d rather not say anything here :P.
BTW, the dogs have stopped. Its the birds who are after the board now. I’d rather not say anything about your post. You’ll go on and on. :D
@Mia
Hah…ok, will check out the book. Three weeks with my brother is OK. I’m still trudging through that. :)
And why am I being blamed for having a camp. So do you. And Fez.
Your camp is called- “Mia’s-how-to-fight-terrorism-with-fear-camp” :D And well Fez’ is free-all-states camp.
Well, mine is of course, the butcher’s camp. :P
I’m not commenting on this post again. :)
piscianemperor
May 14, 2010 at 11:10 pm
@Fez: Link the second sentence with your question, and that’s the reason I mentioned it.
@piscianemperor: I know. I didn’t want to rate the book, because it’s on his personal life, but overall it is not all that great. I say ditch the book, if you get bored.
Nice title’s, I like! Wellllllll, I wrote all that to convince you, and it sucks how you didn’t even get remotely convinced! Hmph.
Cooool :-)
Mia
May 15, 2010 at 1:26 am
Awesome blog…one more thing for me to frequent…Honestly i don’t think its worthwhile to have my hard-earned money going as taxes to foot kasab’s security bill…N i know one might not agree with anyone having the power to decide someone’s fate so as to speak i do believe there are certain situations where i would definitely make an exception…how bout Koli – the Nithari murderer or the recent sentencing where the guy killed an old lady, raped her pregnant daughter and left her for dead…i mean there are certain circumstances where i just cannot believe a person can be ever brought to raelize the volume of his actions…As regards Kasab, m still trying not to succumb to my extreme blood-lust so to say..;-)
Aditya
May 18, 2010 at 11:53 pm
I’m glad this post came at a time where the blood lust is still dormant!
Fez
May 19, 2010 at 11:18 pm
@ Fez – hehe…I know what you mean…Hanging seems to painless a way to die depending on what most of the people have planned.But if we did leave him to mercy of the crowds – a la chained to a post at CST at rush hour, v wouldnt b much of a civilized society ourselves. I agree wid the fact that id like to make him suffer n a long drawn out RI would serve its purpose somewhat…but it would just b bait for ore terror attacks…n in the eventuality of a IC-814 repeat i would much rather prevent it than anything else…”Storming the plane” is too fantastical to me…N its not about having faith in out security forces, its a complete n utter lack of faith in the Centre..I mean you can’t take one decent step to curb the Maoist menace how in the world are u ready to tackle much else!!!
Aditya
May 20, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I don’t think storming the plane is fantastical. Remember what France did in Marseille?
Curb the Maoist menace? They’re supporting innocent tribals!
Fez
May 23, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Its France. I don’t think the system here works that way.I havn’t seen our govt n opposition agree on something since a really long time. We’d be sitting here arguing who’s to blame without taking any action. N i dont think the army would be given a free hand.As if it ever was
N really, please dont tell me you’re going the Arundhati Roy way.I know its the latest ‘in’ thing to be sympathetic to the Maoist ’cause’ but i think v all agree whatever motives they had have long since been left by the wayside.They’re nothing but plain terrorists n i’d really like for someone in d govt to have balls n treat them like ones.As far as im concerned if u justify the Maoist bullcrap u justify the Kashmir chaos n even Kasab for that matter.
Aditya
May 23, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I’m not going anyone’s way. It’s just my views. Here’s an interesting article you might want to read.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?265512
Fez
May 23, 2010 at 7:05 pm
No re didnt mean to come off so aggressive. I just do not feel anyone can use anything as an excuse to justify the killings. To me personally the issue has been left way behind. The movt is now controlled by a few people whose sole interest is to create instability.N sorry, i don’t read Outlook mag anymore.Vinod Mehta carries out some of the most biased reporting iv ever known.The whole fiasco after the reservation debate turned me off.
Aditya
May 23, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Lol, all media is biased! I have the same reaction while reading/watching *most* Indian newspapers/news channels. But I still read excerpts I like :D
Fez
May 25, 2010 at 9:16 am
So I just noticed the award on the side. I thought you were joking.
I have to admit I’m really, really, really, really amused!
Congratulations! :D
Mia
May 31, 2010 at 2:04 am
Hmph! Don’t mock my award! No no, wait, don’t mock YOUR award :@
Heh heh :D
Fez
May 31, 2010 at 5:13 am
Fine! I’ll be really NICE and will not say a word!
Mia
June 1, 2010 at 8:01 pm
You should! Oh, you should make it a yearly thing, and people will soon start coveting the ‘Miaward’. Maybe you could have Shah Rukh as a nominee next year :P
Fez
June 3, 2010 at 7:04 am
Miaward? Do elaborate! I’m curious to hear this out. :-) Shah Rukh for nominee? Of all people why SRK? Sometimes I’m okay with him, and other times dislike him. I only like him when he talks about his family, because that’s the only time he sounds genuine.
Mia
June 3, 2010 at 8:04 am
Lol, you could nominate him and me, and make me win. Snigger!
Miaward is an annual given to some of the most outstanding bloggers of our time. Known to be one of the fairest and most coveted awards of blogosphere, it has now gained worldwide recognition. Few years down the line, I’ll be known as one of the first recipients :D
Fez
June 4, 2010 at 7:20 am
lol!! Miaward: the name makes me think of leopards or some type of taekwondo move or a hospital ward, which would be nice.
Mia
June 5, 2010 at 2:07 am
No?! Depends on how you pronounce it. You could also make it sound like a cat’s meaow.
Fez
June 5, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Haha! Thank god you don’t know how I sound in reality! I have a very squeaky-annoying-sorta voice.
Mia
June 5, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Brilliant, so for me, you’re re-christened as ‘Meaow’ now!
Fez
June 5, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Well going by the other post you should be Pakoda and I should be Bhendi! :D
Mia
June 6, 2010 at 7:17 am
No, NO. I should NOT be Pakoda a hundred times over and a hundred times again. You should be Meaow and I should just be Fez!
Fez
June 6, 2010 at 9:36 pm