As guards monitored Ajmal Amir Kasab's special cell at Arthur Road Jail through close-circuit television cameras on Wednesday, they could help but wonder what was going through the mind of the 23-year-old terrorist who was sentenced on Thursday.
Kasab was found guilty on 80 counts for the role he played during the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai.
Clad in a kurta and pair of trousers, Kasab did not seem to be overly disturbed or worried about his fate, said an official, adding that he spent the better part of Wednesday reading the book, ‘Aur Talwar Toot Gayee' (And the Sword is Broken) by Pakistani author Sharif Husain, who wrote under the pseudonym Naseem Hijazi, reports The Times of India.
Hijazi, who was born at Wazirabad in Pre-Partition India, spent the better part of his life in Pakistan, and passed away in 1996. ‘Aur talwar...' is set in the time of Tipu Sultan, where the protagonist, Muazzam Ali, finds success in Tipu's fight against the East India Company. It also delves into Tipu Sultan's life and his betrayal by the people he was close to.
According to officials, Kasab had demanded a few specific books, which had been provided to him.
“He has kept this particular book in his cell all through the trial, and reads it from time to time,'' an official said. At no point did Kasab engage in conversation with the guards posted outside his cell.
“At times, he would just sit still, as if he was thinking deeply about something. He is very reserved,'' the official added. Guards have been forbidden from talking to Kasab unless it is an emergency.
