This video recounts the interrogation of Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving perpetrator of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Police Commissioner shares insights into the initial shock of seeing Kasab, the security measures taken, the psychological approach used to interrogate him, and the eventual breakdown of his resistance, leading to the revelation of the conspiracy.
Here is the full transcript:
You were also the first person just kasab interrogation. What was the first thing when you when you met Kasab? I looked at him and I saw him and I was shocked. Somebody like that could have caused so much damage, could have done what they did to this uh city and let us you know finish here. But then it was this is our one and only chance to understand the full conspiracy to understand the Pakistan role in this and the whole world is watching you.
There was a letter which came from the ministry of home affairs to the Mumbai uh commissioner. He you have to take utmost care of his security. It is your responsibility. Just make sure that uh you so just remember that this was the fellow who had killed three top officers within the Mumbai police. I remember Sir ultimately death penalty. I told them no you know we have to prove the conspiracy. So during that period you know one was frightened that he would be poisoned by his food or the water that he uh drank. So me and another officer would eat the food first then wait for half an hour and then the food would be given to him. Similar thing water first we used to drink you know many times that was given to him just to make sure that he does not die we have to put him in the court for the world to know key how Pakistan has done uh this so you know the first so the first reaction when I saw him was of anger like everybody else was there. But then the thing was we must find out what uh it is and from the way he spoke I knew he was a Punjabi you know that accent but first you and first what was the first word that you uttered out of your mouth see I am also a Punjabi Okay sense he from his accent you know from his accent I knew so the moment he said that I don't sit here I'm coming in one minute I went outside I spoke to my father-in-law my father-in-law is from the undivided India he's from uh you know Punjab uh so I went and asked him I said you know this he gave me a background what is the landmark there. I came back and then I started confronting him. Now see you you must understand his psychology. They knew they were not going back. They had all come to die. So we are interrogating somebody who's prepared to die. Who's prepared to die. Uh so the only way you can uh break him is emotionally you know try to talk to him. So I realized during the initial stages that he's very close to his mother father say you know he's not father used to sell that you know what we call dada north Indian sayalas used to sell that so he was not very close to his father but mother he was attached to so then I told him he I will make you talk to your mother I will make you talk to your uh mother. So he felt and then in that hostile environment because everybody who you know constable officer. So this fellow realized you know this environment is very hostile. So we had to break him to get the true thing out. But you know some you know he knew you know this is one person who speaks my language who has not abused me. uh this till I abused him when you know why have you done it. Uh once you die you know your body immenses scent perfume then you go to heaven and you get your hurries and there is a glow on your face once you die for uh jihad. So, you know, I I heard this or you know, I couldn't bear it anymore. You know, must have been around 1 or so in the morning. You know, we put him in the uh car and vehicle and took him to the morg. Morg may nine of his compatriots were there and in terrible shape because you know in the energy operation some of them got burnt. bodies were stinking blow and that is the time he was shocked. He got a little uh shaken. I said you know your brain you know this world is not the next world is more important why would they be not doing it then another another thing was he was told that you know uh India may uh Muslims are not allowed to pray. No mosque is there. You know the so Crawford market office there are mosques there. So you would hear the Azan this so you know he was taken out one night how people are pray. So you know his in his mind that bubble which was there we systematically burst the bubble and then he became this sub he the entire truth uh you know the truth came out to the extent you know the the connection with us was such you know we were uh I was in the office and the officers come up and say you know key uh US say uh you know the FBI and other people have come they want to uh question uh him. I said take must have been back. So, uh I said, you know, have you finished your uh interrogation? So, that foreigner told there were I think four of them over there told me that he's not uttering a word. In fact, he's giving them a lecture, you know, uh they had their they you know, two of the fellows in their thing could speak Punjabi and uh uru they could speak Hindi. So he in fact he gave a lecture to them how the US is responsible and you are not doing this you are not doing that you people are so they came and they told me I said is that so I said come I'm coming with you so I walked with them back to the crime branch lockup so he he used to call me Janab this is the stage where he would call me Janab he said I then they sat and two hours they spoke to him. Thank you so much.
