I’m a cook, not a killer: Ajmal Kasab

MUMBAI: I’m a cook, not a killer, claimed lone surviving Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab on Tuesday, in keeping with his series of cooked-up stories about the 26/11 last year. On Tuesday, Kasab said he had not undergone any training at the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) camp in Pakistan . Kasab also told the court, which was recording the gunman’s final statement on the prosecution evidence , that he was a cook with a catering company in “Saarayee-Alamghir” near Jhelum in Pakistan.

Denying any involvement with terror outfits such as LeT and Jamat-ul-Dawa (JUD), Kasab declined meeting Hafiz Sayeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Abu Kaafa and Abu Hamza — all wanted accused and alleged LeT operatives. “I heard the names of Lashkar and JuD from the police here. Crime Branch officials had shown the photograph of Lakhvi,” Kasab said.

Asked by the court if he was introduced to one Major General Saab at the training camp, Kasab said: “This is absolutely wrong.” The judge, M L Tahaliyani, was putting questions to Kasab on the basis of his confession before magistrate in February . However, Kasab disowned the confession , saying it was given under duress. Alleging that the police had threatened to administer electric shocks to him if he did not give a statement to the magistrate, Kasab said the police had prepared the confession and forced him to recite it.

Asked by the court, if he was told in the training that he would go to heaven if he attacked India, Kasab replied in the negative saying he did not attend any training. Kasab also denied having told the police anything about Kuber boat and a dead body found on it.

According to the prosecution, the group of 10 terrorists had hijacked Kuber on their way to Mumbai from Karachi in Pakistan. “I have never seen the boat; crime branch and FBI had showed me pictures of Kuber and my clothes and articles seized from the boat. These articles must belong to either fishermen or smugglers. The AK-47 rifle may belong to the police , it is not mine.” An I-card recovered from his trouser pocket was shown to Kasab in the court on Tuesday, but he refused to identify himself.