New Delhi - India on Monday appointed a lawyer for the lone gunman captured during the Mumbai terrorist attacks that killed over 170 people in November, media reports said.

Judge ML Tahiliyani told Ajmal Amir Kasab via video conferencing in the high-security Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai that Anjali Waghmare, a lawyer from the state legal authority had been appointed to represent him, the PTI news agency reported.

Another lawyer would be appointed to assist Waghmare, the report said.

Kasab has not been produced before the court due to security concerns but has participating in the proceedings through video link from the prison in central Mumbai.

Last week he told the court that he was from Pakistan's Punjab province and asked for a lawyer.

Following the Mumbai attacks, Indian lawyers had refused to represent Kasab, who has been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code including "murder and waging war" against India.

During the hearing, Kasab also asked the judge to allow him newspapers in jail. The judge said his plea would be considered at the next date of hearing on 6 April.

Kasab, allegedly a member of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization, was part of the 10-member group that reached Mumbai by sea and laid siege for three days beginning November 26.

He was captured hours after the assault began November 26 and has been in police custody since. More than 170 people were killed.

Two Indian operatives of the Lashkar group, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, will also be tried by the court.

Last week, public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the IANS that the the trial had commenced but it would be held on a day-to-day basis by April.

The attack on Mumbai soured India's relations with Pakistan, as New Delhi blames its neighbour for not moving against anti-India militant groups operating from its soil.

Indian police filed a 11,000-page charge-sheet against 38 people including Kasab, Ansari and Ahmed in connection with the attack. A total of 2,202 witnesses have been identified. (dpa)