MUMBAI: The direction of the trial of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the prime accused in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, may be decided tomorrow (Saturday) when the court is expected to give its findings on claim made by him that he is a minor.On a prosecution plea, judge M L Tahaliyani had ordered an inquiry to determine Kasab's age.Kasab had claimed that he was less than 18 years and therefore could not be tried by the special court.The inquiry concluded on Wednesday with Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam submitting forensic and substantive evidence to show that Kasab was not a minor. The testimony of five witnesses, Ossification (bone) test and dental check has revealed that he was above 20 years. The witnesses, Jail Superindent and the doctor who treated Kasab for bullet injuries sustained in a police encounter on the day of terror, have deposed saying the accused had himself told them that he was 21. The duo even showed the court the registers wherein they had recorded Kasab's age as 21 years.However, Kasab has denied telling Jail Superintendent and the doctor that he was 21. His lawyer Abbas Kazmi has also questioned forensic tests saying that these cannot be regarded as authentic and accurate.
BAGHDAD: Nearly 500 U.S. Army combat engineers who specialize in clearing roads of explosives started shifting to southern Afghanistan."We are probably going to be the beginning of the influx you are going to see to Afghanistan," Lt. Col. Kevin Landers, commander of the Fort Carson, Colo.-based 4th Engineer Battalion, said as crews packed crates and cleaned vehicles for the flight to Kandahar.Obama has ordered 17,000 more U.S. soldiers and Marines to Afghanistan to bolster the 38,000 American troops already battling the resurgent Taliban."We are going to take this footprint out of Iraq," said Landers, whose battalion received word of its reassignment last month just after taking command of clearing roads in Baghdad of bombs and debris.
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