Kasab may be hanged by the year-end: Government

NEW DELHI: The government today said that Ajmal Amir Kasab, who has been sentenced to death in the Mumbai terror attacks case, may be hanged by the end of this year provided there is no legal bar.

"If there is no petition from him (Kasab) challenging the sessions court verdict in the higher court... he can be hanged by the year-end," Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told CNN IBN.

22-year-old Kasab, a Pakistani terrorist, was awarded capital punishment on May six by a Mumbai special court which held him guilty of mass murder and waging war against India, by carrying out the terror strikes in November 2008. As many as 166 people were killed in the attacks by ten gunmen belonging to Lashar-e-Taiba. The death sentence to Kasab has to be confirmed by the Bombay High Court.

On being asked about the status of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru's mercy petition, Pillai said, "It is with the government for consideration."