Police constable Arun Jadhav today confirmed before the designated court that the lone captured terrorist Ajmal Kasab and his deceased associate Abu Ismail had gunned down Anti Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar on November 26 last year.
Deposing before Judge M L Tahilyani, Mr Jadhav, an assistant to Salaskar, said he, along with the three officers and constable Yogesh Patil, were moving on the road behind Cama Hospital in a police vehicle when the two terrorists--one tall and other short (Abu and Kasab respectively), opened fire at the vehicle near the Corporation Bank ATM centre.
Mr Jadhav, who sustained five injuries -- three in the right elbow and two on the left shoulder during the firing, said, "We also retaliated the firing. However, we do not know whether the bullets hit them." The witness, during examination by Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam, said after the exchange of fire there was silence for a few minutes. Thereafter, both the terrorists came to the police vehicle and pulled out Mr Salaskar, Mr Kamte and Mr Karkare from the vehicle, and the taller one took the drivers seat and drove towards Metro Cinema.
Mr Jadhav said that on their way, Mr Patil, who had also sustained injury, got a call on his mobile. On hearing the phone ring, Kasab opened fire at Mr Patil inside the vehicle and injured his head.
Mr Jadhav told the court that he pretended to be dead as he was injured and could not pick up his gun.
He said the wheels of the police vehicle got punctured near the Vidhan Bhavan building, following which Abu and Kasab jumped out of it. They then stopped a Skoda car passing by and threatened the passengers at gun point to get down and hand them the key to the car, and drove off.
