Price of security arrangements before the 26/11 terrorist's case comes up for trial has racked up to Rs 50 lakh and counting
Price of security arrangements before the 26/11 terrorist's case comes up for trial has racked up to Rs 50 lakh and counting
Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Mohammad Ajmal Qasab is the most expensive prisoner in India ever. Providing security to the man, who killed three of Mumbai's best police officers on November 26, 2008, has cost
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the exchequer an estimated Rs 50 lakh so far. And that's just the beginning.
Qasab will be in custody for a couple of months, at the very minimum, so the cost will quite naturally go up.
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Qasab's security is crucial because he is the only surviving terrorist of the 10 LeT operatives who killed 172 and wounded over 500 during the massacre on 26/11.
Bringing him to trial could finally establish Pakistan's involvement in the Mumbai attacks and security arrangements assume significance in light of intelligence reports that indicate a plot has been hatched to target Qasab during his stint at Arthur Road jail.
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The contract has been assigned to gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his right-hand man Chhota Shakeel, which could, in fact, be ghostwritten by the Pakistani ISI.
While Qasab has been in the Crime Branch's CIU (crime investigation unit) cell since he was nabbed on November 26, once his case comes up for trial next week, he will be moved to a special cell inside Arthur Road jail, 50m away from the former TADA court, now called the special trial court.
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The 15 x 15, window-less cell will be able to withstand grenade attacks as the walls, ceiling and pillars are made of high tensile steel. There will be a couple of ducts for ventilation.
There will a battery of CCTVs inside the cell as well on the roof of the cell to monitor movements.u00a0 The special camera units will be installed in the next few days.
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Around the cell will be at least six bunkers manned by as many highly-trained cops, so that there is no attack from within the jail.
The bunkers, made of steel plates and steel wiremesh, are built into a strengthened steel wall, all of which can prevent missile attacks.
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Between the cell and this length of bunker will be dry moat, to ensure security is not breached from below.
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Meanwhile, security around the cell has already been tightened even before the Public Works Department sanctioned a contractor to begin the work.
The workers are thoroughly frisked before they are allowed to go near the site.
Special Superintendent of Prisons Swati Sathe refused to comment. "I am not in Mumbai," said Sathe.
Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Rakesh Maria has also refused to divulge any details on Qasab or the security arrangements.
He however confirmed that the trials would be conducted from a special cell inside Arthur Road jail.
Qasab gets Salem ka salaam
Sources say that gangster and 1993 Mumbai serial blast prime accused Abu Salem visited Qasab on Wednesday night, when the LeT man was lodged in the Aanda Cell for two days, as part of judicial procedure.
Qasab's confessional statement was recorded before a magistrate last afternoon.
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