26/11 trial: Kasab seeks translated copy of chargesheet

MUMBAI: Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone captured terrorist in Mumabi terror attacks who attended court proceedings for the first time on Monday through video conferencing, sought Urdu translation of the 11,000-page chargesheet.

Kasab, while interacting with metropolitan magistrate N N Shrimangale, said he is unable to understand it as it is in English and Marathi. The magistrate asked him to make this request before the special court when the trial begins.

Following is the verbatim conversation between the magistrate and Kasab:

Magistrate: "Tumhara naam kya hai?" (What is your name) Kasab: "Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab." Magistrate: "Kya tumhe chargesheet ki copy mili?" (Have you recieved a copy of the chargesheet)

Kasab: "Haan, magar woh jis bhasha main hai woh meri samajh ki bahar hai. Mujhe Angrezi aur Marathi samajh mein nahi aati." (Yes but I do not understand the language the chargesheet is in. I do not know English and Marathi)

Magistrate: "Tumhe jo bhasha main chahiye woh dene ki provision nahi hai. Committal ka order pass kar raha hoon. Tum apna request special court main March 23 ko karna." (There is no provision to give the copy of the chargesheet in the language you want. The court is committing the case to the special court, where you can make this request on March 23).