'Don't put Kasab on death row waiting list'

Ajmal Kasab's execution, after he was sent to the gallows on Thursday, may not happen soon, but calls grew loud that he be hanged quickly, amid hopes that the Pakistani terrorist does not end up being on the death row 'waiting list'.

Authorities were asked to show urgency in carrying out the death sentence awarded to the 22-year-old Pakistani terrorist.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was among those who demanded that Kasab be hanged without delay.

"I don't want any delay in hanging Kasab. I want fast track hanging of Kasab," K Unnikrishnan, father of National Security Guard Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was killed in the operation against the terrorists during the siege, said in Bangalore.

Unnikrishnan said Kasab should not end up among the convicts who are on death row 'waiting list' in the country. "Don't put Kasab on death row waiting list," he said.

His sentiments were shared by Kavita, wife of slain Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who said authorities should brook no delay in carrying out the death sentence, despite the legal options available for Kasab. "He (Kasab) should be hanged immediately," Kavita said.

Welcoming the capital punishment awarded to Kasab, Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari said he was 'not sure' whether the sentence would be carried out.

"I am not sure. Afzal Guru (convicted for the 2001 Parliament attack) who was sentenced to death, is still there," Gadkari said.

However, BJP spokesman Tarun Vijay urged the Centre not to delay the execution. "The government should not delay his hanging. Kasab was a terrorist and waged war against the Indian state. He should not get any privileges under the Indian law," Vijay said in Kolkata.

Vijay's sentiments were shared by the Congress Member of Parliament from Mumbai Sanjay Nirupam, who said the whole exercise should not be prolonged by way of mercy petitions, and he should be executed as soon as possible.

Echoing similar sentiments, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena spokesman Shirish Parkar said people expect the judgment to be implemented at the earliest.

Unnikrishnan said, "It was a good judgment and public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam has done a good job".
He added that the execution of the sentence should not be delayed in any manner. "Make it quick. It is a good judgment but I wish we could do more," he said.

"It is unfortunate that we can do nothing against those behind it and other perpetrators of such crimes. We are helpless," he said.

On whether Kasab's death penalty would deliver a blow to Pakistan, he said, "India had in the past delivered many such strong messages and blows and even exposed many such cases" but Islamabad was yet to do something about it.

To a question on whether he was happy with the judgment, an irked Unnikrishnan said "How can I be happy? I am not happy. I lost what I loved the most. How can you be happy? I would have been happy if Sandeep had returned safe after the operation. No victim's family can be happy".