(Thumbnail image: Outlook India)

The images you are seeing are from the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks against India, which killed over 160 people. The lone surviving gunman, Ajmal Kasab (Ajmal KUH-Saab), has recently been convicted of all 86 charges against him, including waging war on India and murder. While many are calling for his execution, some are wondering if that would actually make a difference.


Speaking to NDTV, Mumbai Police Commissioner Shakeel Akthar (Shaquille AH-tur) says an execution for Kasab is the only option.

REPORTER: "Will any punishment less than capital punishment for Kasab be acceptable for people like you?"
AKTHAR: "As we know, it is a war against the nation. Nothing less than death, I would prefer, not only as a police officer, but as a good citizen of this country."


Actor Rajan Verma (RAY-John Vur-MAH) portrays Kasab in the film Ashok Chakra (Ah-showk chŭk'rə), which is based on the attacks. According to ibnlive.com, in the film, Kasab is found guilty of all his charges and is hanged before the people of India. The film will be released on May 28.


"Months before the (Mumbai) trial ended, we had decided that Kasab will be hanged to death in the film, it was the only just thing to do. The film shows Kasab accepting his guilt before his death."


A writer for The Times of India says even with the death penalty, it could take years for justice to actually be carried out.  


"Even if Ajmal Kasab gets death penalty in the fastest trial in a terror case, the actual punishment may not come to him as fast, leaving the government with no option but to spend a huge sum on his security, possibly for years till he is finally hanged."

But a reporter for SKY News says the death penalty won't necessarily appease the people of Mumbai. As long as more than 20 other Pakistani accomplices are still running free, justice has a long way to go.

"Certainly the Indian government believes the Pakistani authorities are not doing nearly enough to crackdown on Lashkar-e-Taiba, this is the outfit that Kasab is believed to belong to and which was run inside Pakistan on Pakistani soil. They believe that the Pakistani government needs to do more to round up the men, the founders of these groups, the people behind it. Because Kasab, they believe and certainly, I think this is a widespread belief throughout India, that he was just a foot soldier. The real argument, the real organization still exists."

Do you think executing Kasab would make a difference? Or is there no solace to be found?

By Victoria Uwumarogie

For more video on the Mumbai attacks and the aftermath, check out the related video section at the bottom of the transcript.

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