New Delhi - The lone gunman captured during the November Mumbai terrorist attacks is scheduled to appear in person for the first time before a special court in India Wednesday. Police in financial hub Mumbai have increased security, regulated traffic and restricted movement of people in the vicinity of Arthur Road Jail where Ajmal Amir Kasab is lodged and where he will appear before the court, Times of India newspaper reported Tuesday.

Kasab has been earlier produced before the court through video conferencing.

Special court judge ML Tahilyani had earlier said proceedings would begin in his court on April 15 at the Arthur Road Jail.

Tahiliyani had also directed the prosecution and defence lawyers to come prepared for the trial on that day.

The trial, which was expected to start earlier in April, was delayed as construction work required for the special court was not complete.

There were also unexpected problems over appointing a lawyer for Kasab, with Hindu right-wing activists threatening a state-appointed lawyer.

Kasab, allegedly a member of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization, was reported to be part of a 10-member group that mounted attacks in Mumbai for three days beginning November 26.

He was captured hours after the assault. More than 170 people were killed in the terrorist action.

Kasab is facing charges of waging war against the nation and murder.

Two Indian nationals who are accused along with Kasab will also face trial.

Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed are charged with doing a reconnaissance of the Taj Mahal and Trident hotels and the railway station which were the terrorists' targets. They had allegedly prepared maps and gave them to the LET.

The Indian police filed a 11,000-page charge sheet against 38 people including Kasab. A total of 2,202 witnesses have been identified but it is not yet clear how many will be called to testify.

The charges allege key planners of the assaults included Pakistan-based LET leaders Hafeez Sayyid, Fahim Ansari, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah.

These men were located in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir and have been listed in the charge-sheet as "wanted absconders." (dpa)