Sena Protests Force Waghmare to Pull-out as Kasab Counsel

Advocate Anjali Waghmare has withdrawn from the 26/11 case in which she was to appear as defence counsel for Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist caught alive during the macabre November 26 terror strikes in Mumbai.

Waghmare is reported to have sent out a signed letter to the chief of the local Shiv Sena branch stating that she was withdrawing from the case after protesters targeted her Worli residence on Monday night.

Angry crowds pelted stones at her house after she agreed to defend 26/11 Kasab.

Protestors are reported to have included Shiv Sena activists and residents of the Worli police camp where two policemen – Shashank Shinde and Tukaram Ombale – lived before being gunned down during the terror attack.

The mob was dispersed after local police arrived on the scene and resorted to a mild cane charge, say correspondents.

The police also detained at least two senior functionaries of the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Sena.

Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil, however, said that Waghmare is still prepared to fight Kasab’s case.

“We have to see that Kasab gets fair trial and therefore he needs to get a correct lawyer. By doing so Shiv Sena is prolonging Kasab’s case and hence they are acting against national interest,” Patil was quoted as saying by IBNLive.

“The police officers who were in touch with Anjali have informed me that she is prepared to fight Kasab’s case,” he added.

“We have provided her security now and there is no threat to her life. She doesn’t want action to be taken against the Shiv Sena workers as they are known to her,” Patil contended.