Mumbai, May 3
“Kasab should be hanged,” wife of Vijay Salaskar, who was killed while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 terror attack, said here today.

“I expect death sentence for Kasab. Nothing less,” Smita Salaskar told reporters while reacting to the verdict.

Salaskar and two other senior police officers - ATS chief Hemant Karkare and Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte - were killed by terrorists Abu Ismail and Kasab outside Cama hospital.

Congress MP Milind Deora said: “It is extremely important to hang Kasab,”

The family of slain Assistant Sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale, who caught Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab during the terror attack, expressed satisfaction with the gunman’s conviction but demanded he should be given death penalty.

“It is good to hear that Kasab was found guilty. We were eagerly awaiting this since morning. He should be given death penalty then only, I think, my father’s sacrifice will have actual value,” an emotional Vaishali Ombale, 23-year-old daughter of the policeman, said.

Tukaram’s cousin brother Namdeo Ombale said: “I knew that Kasab would be convicted as he was clearly seen killing people on the night of terror attacks. Tomorrow’s day would be very crucial for us as the quantum of punishment in the case against Kasab would be decided and and we want the court to give him death penalty.”

Unarmed Ombale was shot dead by an AK-47-wielding Kasab at Girgaum Chowpatty in South Mumbai but not before he ensured that the terrorist was caught alive.

Central Railway announcer Vishnu Zende, who had witnessed the Pakistani gunman’s terror act from close quarters and alerted commuters to flee from the CST railway station, has also hailed Kasab’s conviction.

“Kasab had killed so many people. He got punishment for his heinous acts and wrong deeds,” Zende told PTI.Zende had saved several lives by asking commuters through the public address system to leave CST station from the rear exit on the fateful night of November 26 2008.

“I still remember the terror faces...Kasab and his aide (Abu Ismail) were walking inside the station brandishing fire arms,” said Zende, a resident of Nalasopara in neighbouring Thane district. He was conferred Rs 10 lakh reward by the Railway Ministry for his bravery.

“At around 9.50 pm on the fateful night, I heard sound of explosives and bullets from the hall on the main line section following which I alerted Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police, who rushed to spot,” he recalled.

“Minutes after that I saw people running helter skelter with blood stains on them. Without waiting for a minute, I announced asking the people to move out of the station hurriedly,” Zende said at his office at CST from where all seven suburban train platforms can be viewed.

“However, I did not use the word 'terrorists' during announcement as it would have caused panic at station and might have led to another disaster or stampede. For over 30 minutes, I continuously urged people to leave the station from the rear side exit,” he said. — PTI