Mumbai, May 04 2010: Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab, convicted for 26/11 terror attacks, will be sentenced on Thursday by a special court which heard the prosecution describing him as a killing machine manufactured in Pakistan and demanding that he be hanged.

Expectedly, the parents of Bimolchandra of Khurai Ningthoubung Leikai, who was among those killed in the terror attack at Hotel Oberoi has demanded the death penalty for Kasab.

Bimolchandra was an employee of the five star hotel.

Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said Kasab was a monster who laughed seeing innocent people dying in pain.

Making out a strong case for capital punishment, Nikam said if he was given lesser penalty "India will become a soft target for every self-styled terror group" .

In his arguments today on the quantum of sentence to the 22-year-old terrorist, Nikam told the jampacked anti-terror court in the Arthur Road jail that Kasab's case came under the rarest of rare category for giving death sentence and that there were no mitigating circumstances.

"Such a monster should be given death penalty....

He is an agent of devil himself".

For over two hours, the prosecution contended that Kasab ruthlessly caried out the executions.

"It was pre-meditated".

Defence counsel KP Pawar cited Kasab's young age and pleaded for leniency.

Dressed in a white kurta-pyjama and unshaven, Kasab kept his head bowed throughout Nikam's arguments, showing no emotions.

Seeking death for Kasab, the lone surviving gunman involved in the brazen attacks that left 166 people dead, Nikam said, "Kasab has lost every right to live.

He was not happy after killing 72 persons and wanted to kill more" .

Among those he killed were 14 police officials and helpless women and children.

Kasab was found guilty on more than 80 of the 86 charges brought against him for planning and executing the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

Tahaliyani held him guilty of mass murder and waging war against India.

"There has been a high degree of cruelty and Kasab had total disregard for life.

Kasab is a killing machine and such machines are manufactured in Pakistan," he said.

Nikam claimed Kasab was in a "joyous" mood seeing people dying in pain and agony after opening indiscriminate fire at the bustling Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and else where on November 26, 2008 .

"There was no remorse and he said in his confession before the magistrate that he wanted to inspire future fidayeens (suicide killers) .

"If death is not awarded, it would be a mockery of justice," Nikam argued.

Nikam said Kasab had expressed disappointment that he had landed at the CST after the rush hour.

Kasab had anticipated a busier station, based on CDs he had been shown of CST before the attack.

He said the the group was supposed to reach CST before 8 pm but could do so only at 9.30 pm.

The prosecutor also said that in his confession to the Mumbai police, Kasab said that he was upset that he could not kill more people at the station.

At CST alone, Kasab killed close to 60 people in an hour with his partner, Abu Ismael.

Nikam cited nine Supreme Court judgements to show that the case fell under the rarest of rare category in which death penalty was necessary.

Emerging from the court, Nikam told reporters that he had cited eight reasons to drive home his point that Kasab should be hanged.

He said the 26/11 attacks were a result of a "pre-planned conspiracy hatched in Pakistan".

Kasab and Ismael had opened indiscriminate firing without anyone provoking them, he contended.

Nikam said Kasab's comparison to a wild animal would be insulting the latter.

A wild animal is satisfied after devouring its prey but Kasab was looking for pumping bullets into more people.

The prosecutor submitted to the court pictures of Kasab caught on camera laughing as he sprayed bullets.

The terrorist "was happy to see people in pain and anguish as a result of his firing," he said.

"It was not cold blooded murders but frozen-blooded murders" .

The verdict came 17 months after Kasab and nine other Pakistani terrorists trained and armed by Pakistan-based Lashkar-eTaiba let loose death and destruction on Mumbai.

In his 1522-page verdict, the judge had also held that evidence adduced by the prosecution pointed a finger at Pakistan and established that the absconding accused, including LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and chief of operations Zaki-Ur-Rehman Lakhvi had plotted the attacks.

Barring a few minor charges pertaining to forgery and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Kasab was convicted of almost all 86 charges he was arraigned for.

In his arguments, the defence lawyer pleaded for leniency to be shown to the Pakistani terrorist on account of his young age and lack of previous criminal record.

"He (Kasab) is young and chances of him reforming are likely.

He should be rehabilitated," Pawar said.

In a complete volte face from his contention during the trial that Kasab was innocent and was picked up by the police several days before the 26/11 attacks, his counsel said," he was blinded by religion and committed the crime under extreme mental and emotional disturbance.

"Kasab is a human being and should be given a chance to reform" .

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