World News

A ten-year-old girl, disabled in right leg due to a bullet injury sustained in 26/11 terror attack, today identified Ajmal Kasab as one of the two gunmen, even as her emotionally-charged father broke down in the court pleading that the accused be hanged for ruining her life. The father-daughter duo was among the four eye witnesses who identified Kasab in the court, saying he was one of the two who had fired indiscriminately at people in Chhatrapati Shivaji rail Terminus (52 were killed and close to 90 injured).

The other witnesses were a police officer and a native of Jalgaon who were also hit by bullets. Devika, the youngest witness in this case, was brought to the court by father Natwarlal Rotawan in his lap.

In the court, Devika, walked with crutches to the witness box and took oath in the name of God to tell the truth. Emotional scenes were witnessed in the courtroom of Special Judge M L Tahaliyani when Devika promptly answered in Hindi the questions put to her by prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

Asked if she could identify the gunman among the three accused present in the dock the little girl pointed towards Kasab, the lone surviving gunman. He, however, did not react.

Lawyer Abbas Kazmi did not cross examine looking at her tender age, but the court asked the girl if her testimony was true to which Devika replied, "It is not correct to say that I am telling lies about Kasab opening fire. I have taken oath in the name of God and will not tell lies.