“It would be insulting to our martyrs if Ajmal is let off on humanitarian grounds without any punishment,” Vaishali, daughter of Tukaram Ombale, who was killed during the terror siege, said in an interview to Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Friday.

“Why should he not get punished while my father died fighting Ajmal without thinking about the family?” she asked.

Vaishali also rubbished the arguments about Ajmal being young and, therefore, he should not be punished. She said the terrorists have killed nearly 200 innocent people, including 16 policemen.

“In fact, not punishing Ajmal would encourage the terrorist organisations to send even younger ones in the age bracket of 15-16 years with guns to kill more Hindus,” she said.

In Thursday’s 'Saamana' editorial, Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had criticised Kavita, wife of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare, and their daughter for suggesting that Ajmal should be let off on humanitarian grounds, and said the country did not share their stance.