Indian Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Mumbai gunman

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani national, is the only surviving perpetrator of the 3-day, 2008 terror attack that killed 166

By AP and ToI Staff 29 August 2012, 10:19 am

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Indian commandos prepare to storm the Nariman Chabad House in Mumbai during the 2008 terror attacks. (photo credit: Youtube screen capture)

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of the only surviving gunman of the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.

A Mumbai court had convicted 22-year-old Mohammed Ajmal Kasab of murder, waging war against India, conspiracy and terrorism in May 2010 and sentenced the Pakistani national to death. The sentence was confirmed by the state High Court in February last year.

Wednesday’s Supreme Court order was expected. It was not immediately clear what Kasab’s next step would be, but legally he can still appeal to India’s president for mercy.

Kasab and nine other Pakistani gunmen rampaged through Mumbai for three days in November 2008, killing and wounding hundreds with bombs and assault weapons.

Among the targeted sites were the Nariman House, which was then in use as a Chabad center. Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, his pregnant wife Rivka and four other hostages were shot by the attackers as Indian security forces stormed the building.