Kasab is not under 18: Medical report

In hearing to Kasab’s juvenile appeal, a Mumbai special court on Tuesday ruled out the Pakistani terrorist’s claim that he was below the age of 17 when he was arrested after the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

The medical test of Ajmal Amir Kasab has finally proved that he is above 20 years and hence should be tried in a normal court and not under the juvenile law.

Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 attack, underwent with various medical tests including ossification, blood tests, forensic dental analysis and X rays, as per the direction of court.

The medical reports were handed over to the Special Court Judge M. L. Tahiliyani by the Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam. The judge then ruled that Kasab is not a minor.

On April 24, with the claim of defence lawyer about the age of Kasab, the court had ordered for an inquiry and asked report by April 28. Kasab’s lawyer had offered to travel to Pakistan to determine Kasab’s actual age but the court preferred the scientific test.

A team of four doctors including a radiologist and a forensic dentist conducted the test and unanimously agreed the fact that accused is not a minor.

In the process, two witnesses were also testified who confirmed Kasab’s age as he had admitted in two different occasions. Swati Sathe, superintendent of the Arthur Road central jail where Kasab is being kept, told the judge that at the time of his admission, Kasab had told her he was 21 years old.

Also Dr. Raghavan of Mumbai's Nair hospital who had treated Kasab on Nov 27 last year soon after his arrest by police that Kasab had said he was 21 years old.

The trial is to resume on May 2 which may continue for several days and if convicted the Pakistani terrorist will be handed over death sentence.