Kasab takes different stand, says he cannot follow proceedings

MUMBAI: Prime accused and lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, on Monday departed from his earlier stand, saying he could not understand the proceedings of the court conducted in English.

"Except for words ... Kasab and Pakistan .... I cannot understand what the prosecutor is telling the court," accused Kasab told Judge M L Tahilyani.

Twice earlier, Kasab had told the court that he could follow the proceedings and also that he could understand English. But, today, he took a different stand.

When Kasab was produced before the court, he looked dull and sat with folded hands without displaying any feelings or emotions. This prompted the judge to have a dialogue with him.

Judge : "Tumhari problem kya hai?" (what is your problem?) Kasab : "Meri problem yeh hai ki kuch bhi samajhn mein nahin aata" (My problem is that I cannot understand anything)

Judge : Kyun? (Why?) Kasab : Sirf Kasab aur Pakistan Yehi hi sunayi deta hai (I can hear only Kasab and Pakistan, the rest I cannot follow) Hindi mein ho jai to acha hoga (it will be fine if proceedings are conducted in Hindi).

Judge : Tumhari Tabhiyat to thik hai? (Are you all right?) At this juncture Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam intervened to say Kasab was all right and appeared to be fine.

Nikam then continued with his submissions.