Victims of 26/11 yet to come to terms with life

Mumbai, May 24 (PTI) Eighteen-year-old Mukesh Gupta, who
lost his father in the November 26 terror attacks here in
India's financial capital, is yet to come to terms with life
six months after the dastardly act, as he struggles to earn
bread for family while giving up studies.

Mukesh is not the only one who had to take the family's
responsibility on young shoulders. There are others also, who
have sacrificed their career and are striving hard for
survival.

Mukesh's father, Bechan (45), who was going to his
village in Uttar Pradesh to meet his family, was killed at
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) when the terrorists opened
fire indiscriminately killing people.

"We were eager to receive him but then we learnt that he
has been killed at CST station. Our hearts broke, we suffered
great pain and are still trying to come out of it. Being
eldest, I left studies mid-way and took up a job in Railways,"
Mukesh said.

Bechan stayed alone in Mumbai since 32 years. After
his death, the family shifted to Mumbai.

"I'm finding it difficult to manage. I came here only
twice when I was young. Now I'm trying to adjust. The cost of
living is high and I'm finding it difficult to cope up,"
Mukesh said.

Like Gupta, 27-year-old Mohammed Hararwala is also
struggling hard to forget the deadly 26/11 attacks. He lost
his parents in these attacks when terrorists stormed Nariman
House. They stayed in a flat opposite Nariman House and were
hit by bullets sprayed by terrorists.

"No one can take their place. I'm left with no words to
explain what I feel now. But life has to go on and we are just
trying to forget what happened," Harawala said.

"Though financially we are stable but what about our
mental and emotional stability?" asked Harawala.

For another victim, 40-year-old constable B B More, who
was injured in firing at CST, the five minutes spent at the
venue were the most difficult and horrifying moments of his
life in his 15 years of service in police force.

Describing the horrifying night, More said, "After
receiving call from the control room, we reached station, and
saw that the terrorists were firing randomly."

"While we were looking for a location to park the van,
four-five bullets brushed the roof of the van and one of them
hit my right leg," he said.

"I'm still finding it difficult to walk. I don't know
when I will be able to walk properly. The incident has left
scars in my life," More said.

Hararwala's family believes that the 26/11 trial will
only cause delay in the administration of justice.

His father-in-law Tabrez Tayeebi feels that the talks
between Pakistan and India are getting weaker day-by-day and
is likely to affect the 26/11 trial.

"They (Pakistan) are not ready to accept him (Mohammed
Ajmal Amir Kasab) as their own national. The situation has now
become much worse there. There is no dialogue between both the
countries. If he is given the death penalty then it will
invite lot of criticism from our neighbours," Tayeebi said.

The entire world has watched on television what these
ten terrorists did, why then there is a need for trial? It
would only delay justice, he said.

Hararwala feels that whatever punishment the court gives
it should be implemented immediately and should not be
delayed.

"If he (Kasab) is not hanged then it will raise questions
about our judiciary system," he said. PTI KKP
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