India's most notorious prisoner, Pakistan-born Ajmal Kasab (23), convicted for his role in the 26/11 terror strike, has become ‘Qaidi Number C-7096' in the Arthur Road jail after the prison department alloted this number to him last week, reports Times of India.
Unlike other convicts, though, he won't have to work as a shoemaker, carpenter, handloom operator, cook or tailor. That's because, he has been awarded the death penalty by a special court.
As a murder convict, he can also no longer sport a T-shirt and jeans.
He must wear a white outfit with black stripes and a white cap (topi). Ramesh Dhamane, superintendent of the Arthur Road jail, said: ‘‘Kasab has been given a convict's dress and the clothes that he wore earlier have been taken from him.''
Kasab will have to wash and dry the two sets of convict's clothes he has been handed since he does not have money to pay for getting them washed.
After the trial is over, what will become of his clothes? ‘‘The clothes seized from Kasab are his property. After he is hanged, they will be given to his relatives, if they approach the authorities,'' said crime branch chief, Himanshu Roy.
‘‘The number helps jail authorities maintain convicts' record. In the record, Kasab will be mostly referred to by his qaidi number,'' said an official.
Jail officials have noticed a considerable change in Kasab's demeanour following the conviction. ‘‘Now, he spends most of the time sitting near the iron doors. Sometimes, he tries speaking to the constables posted there for security,'' said an official.
‘‘There is no fan in his cell. To beat the heat, he often takes off his kurta and sits in one corner or the other in his cell. Earlier, he would go to the court and see several people there, but now, his feeling of loneliness is evident from his gestures,'' the official said.
Inmates convicted of any offence up to an imprisonment of three months are given any number beginning with the alphabet ‘A' while those who are convicted for a period between three months and five years are given the ‘B' series.
Those convicted for the most heinous crimes such as murder are enrolled under the ‘C' series.
Convicts getting rigorous imprisonment are offered jobs such as carpentry and making carpets, which may end up in government offices. They may help prepare food, which is also served to their fellow inmates.
Earlier, convicts had to break stones. Now, they have to work inside the four walls of the jail premises.
Kasab, though, will not have to work since he has been awarded the capital punishment.
‘‘A murder convict does not have to work, which is why Kasab too will not be given any job,'' said a jail official. According to the jail manual, unskilled convicts are paid Rs 12.75 a day, semi-skilled convicts Rs 17 and skilled convicts Rs 25.50 as remuneration.
