Mumbai, May 06 2010: Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab was today sentenced to death for the Mumbai terror attack by a special court which held that keeping him alive will be a "lingering danger" to society from a person who has no chance of reform.

"Kasab shall be hanged by the neck until death," Special Judge M L Tahaliyani said while reading out the sentence awarded to the 22-year-old lone surviving terrorist in the November 26, 2008 carnage in which 166 people were killed.

Bringing the curtains down on one of the fastest trials in a terror case three days after finding him guilty, the judge sent Kasab to the gallows on five counts--mass murder, abetment of murder, waging war against the Indian state, conspiracy and terror, offences covered under IPC and Unlawful Prevention of Activities Act.

The death sentence will be subject to confirmation by the Bombay High Court.

If ratified, Kasab, a foot soldier of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), can also appeal against it in the Supreme Court to be followed by a mercy petition to the President if it fails.

Kasab was also handed down life sentence on an equal number of counts--attempt to murder, conspiracy to wage war, collecting arms with an intention to wage war against the nation, kidnapping in order to commit murder and causing explosion to endanger life or property.

Kasab, who wore a white kurta-pyjama, sat stoically through the proceedings in the specially created courtoom in the high-security Arthur Road jail, lowered his head and was seen sobbing as the judge read out the sentence.

After pronouncing the sentence, the judge asked Kasab to stand up and explained to him the verdict in Hindi.

"Pakistan ke LeT se milkar saazish ki uske liye maut, khoon kiya uske liye maut aur bharat sarkar ke khilaf jung cheda uske liye maut...aapko marte dam tak sazayen maut di jayegi (For conspiring with Pak-based LeT, for committing murders and for waging war against India, you will be hanged till death)," the judge told Kasab, who just nodded.

"Keeping Kasab alive would be a lingering danger to the society and the Indian government.

The possibility of Kasab reforming is completely ruled out by the barbaric manner in which he had behaved''.

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