The death sentence to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving Pakistani gunman of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, received wide coverage on Thursday in the US media, which for the past few days has been focused on the Times Square bomb case involving a Pakistani American.
The news that 22-year-old Kasab has been given death sentence was immediately running on the tickers of various news channels.
"Indian court sentences to death Pakistani gunman convicted in 2008 Mumbai attacks," said the Fox News. The terrorist attacks on November 26, 2008 by members of Lashkar-e-Taiyba had killed 166 people.
"Mumbai gunman sentenced to death," reported CNN. "On receiving the sentence, Kasab lowered his head. He was silent when the judge asked him if he wanted to say anything," the CNN said.
The Washington Post said, in its report from New Delhi, said television channels across India 'ran heated debates about whether Kasab should be executed -- a rare penalty in India.'
"In bazaars across New Delhi, people gathered around community television sets watching the news at beauty salons, grocery stores and TV showrooms. At one pharmacy shop, a small group of men clapped when the verdict was announced," it said.
The New York Times reported that Kasab is unlikely to be put to death quickly. "Mr Kasab is unlikely to be put to death quickly. His punishment has to be ratified by the Bombay High Court and he may appeal further, to the Supreme Court, and seek mercy from the president of the country," The Times reported on its website, so did almost all major newspapers, as the news appeared after the newspapers went to print in US.
The daily provided details of the event in the court room. "For most of the nearly two-hour hearing on Thursday, Mr Kasab did not look at the judge or anybody else in the courtroom. He did not address the court, though he appeared to ask his guards to let him out of the room."
"At one point the guards took him out to have a glass of water while the judge was reading his order but brought him back within a couple of minutes," The Times said.
