Rs 29.5 crore spent on Kasab in 4 years; 'tell my mother' was his last wish

MUMBAI: Both central and Maharashtra governments have spent around Rs 29.5 crores on Ajmal Kasab to provide him food, security, medicines and clothes during his confinement in Arthur Road Central prison here, official sources said on Wednesday.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed around 250 guards for Kasab in the prison since his arrest in November 2008 till October 2012 and expenditure on this count worked out to Rs 26 crore, sources said.

Maharashtra government spent around Rs 3.47 crores on Kasab including food (Rs 42,313), security (Rs 1,46,81,794), medicines (Rs 39,829) and clothes (Rs 1,878).

The state government also incurred an expenditure of Rs 2 crores on building a bullet and bomb proof cell especially for Kasab in the central prison at Arthur Road.

The cell was connected to the specially made court (also bomb and bullet proof) by a tunnel which was fortified with iron walls and ceiling to ward off any terrorist strike with bombs.

This is for the first time that such a bomb and bullet proof cell has been made in the prison. This would also serve as a permanent place for any dreaded terrorist or dangerous accused who gets caught and has been put on trial, sources said.

ITBP commandos stood as guards in and around the Arthur road central prison for nearly four years to keep a watch on Kasab, who unleashed terror in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, at the instance of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Kasab's last wish

'Tell my ammi', this was the message conveyed by Kasab, who was hanged today for his involvement in Mumbai terror attack, when he was told about his November 21 execution, official sources said.

Nooree Lai, mother of Kasab, was apparently the closest person to him as he only uttered her name when asked about his last wish, the sources said.

After completion of the formalities, home secretary RK Singh wrote to foreign secretary Rajan Mathai to inform Kasab's mother and other family members who are in Pakistan.

Accordingly, the authorities, through the Indian high commission in Islamabad, had sent a letter to his mother through courier yesterday, fulfilling his last desire, the sources said.

The 25-year-old Let terrorist was hanged at 7.30am this morning in Yerwada Jail in Pune. He was informed on November 12 about his hanging, the sources said.