Ajmal Kasab executed

Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from the 26/11 terror attack, was hanged to death today at 7:30 am at the Yerawada Jail in Pune.

Kasab filed mercy plea to President on September 18 this year, which was later rejected on November 5, following which sentence was executed today in the morning.

25-year-old Kasab was convicted and given capital punishment by the trial court on May 6, 2010 which was upheld by the Bombay High Court on February 21, 2011.

The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the sentence on August 29 this year.

166 persons died in the attack. Police succeeded in capturing Kasab alive after killing the remaining nine terrorists.

Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that Indian mission in Islamabad had informed Pakistan government about Kasab’s execution through letter. As Pakistan refused to accept letter, same was sent through fax.

"The External Affairs Ministry through our mission in Islamabad had informed the Pakistan government about Kasab's hanging. When they did not accept the letter, they were communicated through fax," Shinde told reporters here, hours after the hanging of Kasab.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh said family members of Kasab, who live in Pakistan, had also been informed by Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

"His family members were communicated through courier by our High Commission. We have the receipt of the courier sent and this was later given to the Maharashtra government," Singh said.

Shinde said nobody has come forward to claim the body of 25-year-old Kasab yet and if Pakistan claims it, India would give it to her.

The Home Minister said there should be no problem if Kasab is buried in India.