Two eyewitnesses to depose in Kasab case on May 12

MUMBAI: The prosecution will examine two eyewitnesses in Mumbai terror attack case on Tuesday to throw light on how accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was captured alive while his partner Abu Ismail was shot dead in a police encounter at Girgaum Chowpatty on November 26 last year.

The court on Monday issued summons to both the witnesses -- Hemant Boudhankar and Sanjay Govilkar -- both assistant police inspectors.

Govilkar was injured in waist while another policeman, Tukaram Ombale, was killed when Kasab opened fire after the two pounced on him on the day of the attack, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told media.

Had the police not captured Kasab alive at Girgaum Chowpatty, they would have found it difficult to prove their case against suspected LeT terrorists who came from Pakistan to strike terror in Mumbai, killing 166 and injuring 234, he said.

When Ismail and Kasab were moving about in Skoda car they were stopped by police at Girgaum Chowpatty. Ismail fired at police who retaliated. Ismail, in driver's seat, was fatally injured while Kasab got down from left side of the car and "purposefully" fell down, the special public prosecutor said.

As Ombale and Govilkar moved towards Kasab, he opened fire at the duo and Ombale took the bullets while pouncing on him. Ombale died while Govilkar was injured in waist, Nikam said.

The examination of the first witness, Bhaskar Kadam, concluded on Monday.