The Hindu : National : A verdict long overdue, says man who lost his siblings

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Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006
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A verdict long overdue, says man who lost his siblings

Meena Menon

Many victims have spent a long time in hospital for treatment

PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

SET FREE: Suleiman Memon, an accused in the Mumbai blasts case, enters the TADA Court in Mumbai on Tuesday. He has been acquitted.

MUMBAI: Twenty-seven-year-old Vinayak Devrukhkar did not know about the conviction of four Memon family members on Tuesday in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. "I have not watched television," says Vinayak, who lost two sibilings.

In any case it is a verdict that is long overdue; it should have come out at least 10 years ago, he adds.

Vinayak lost his elder sister, who was 19, and his 11-year-old younger brother in the blast at Century Bazaar on March 12, 1993, which claimed the lives of 113 people. His sister and brother were waiting at the bus stop when the blast took place.

For Vinakay, who lives with his parents and works for a local Shiv Sena municipal corporator, the last 13 years have been traumatic. He is not overjoyed at the verdict. "The main accused are still at large and the guilty know the Government is on their side." It is always the common man who suffers.

As long as the judgment in such cases is delayed, such crimes will continue, he feels. So many bomb blasts have happened after 1993. That is because the Government never punishes the guilty in the first place. There has to be quick action in such cases, he says.

Vinayak and his family used to live in the Nehru Nagar slum opposite the spot where the bomb exploded. Now, most of the houses in the slum have been dismantled and people have moved to transit camps. But memories of that day are still fresh.

Chandrakant Pingle, a railway employee, says Vinayak suffered a lot after he lost his siblings.

"So many people died that day. I know a man who sent his son to buy paan but he never returned. When the blast happened there was so much chaos and pieces of fingers and bones fell at Nehru Nagar. We saw people completely charred sitting in their cars. It is a day we will never forget."

Many blast victims have spent a long time in hospital to recover from severe injuries and loss of hearing. Looking at Santlal Moriya, busy making bhel puri outside the Bombay Stock Exchange, it will be difficult to guess that he has glass pieces lodged all over his body. "Yes, I know about the verdict. My brother watched television and told me. Yes, I am glad some people are punished. They have committed such a big crime and they should be convicted," he says.

Santlal is not unhappy about the delay of 13 years. "The Government has to take into account all aspects and decide who is guilty. A good judgment takes time, but the punishment should go to the right people," he said. While he is happy that at least some justice is in the offing, on a personal level he is dejected that the Government, despite its promises, has done nothing. He did not get any compensation for his injuries and he never tried to claim any money. Now he feels the need for some help from the Government so that his livelihood will not be affected.

The first bomb blast on March 12, 1993 occurred at the Stock Exchange and Santlal and other vendors, who were standing outside the building, were thrown off in the impact. "I lost my licence after the blast as I was in hospital for a while. Now with all these injuries and pieces of glass inside me, I can't run when the municipality comes to clear my stall. Despite so many promises, the Government has done nothing to help me," he says.

Harassment

Gilajit Singh, who sells sandwiches opposite his stall, was handicapped by the blasts. He refused to comment on the verdict and said his life changed completely after the blasts. "I have a certificate saying I am handicapped. I can barely stand, with 120 stitches in the left leg; I get no help from the Government, despite writing so many applications to the Chief Minister and the Municipal Commissioner. Some time ago, the Municipal Corporation filed a case against me for illegally running a stall. I face constant harassment," he says.

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