10-year girl identifies Kasab,father breaks down says hang him

Mumbai, June 10 (PTI) A ten-year-old girl hit by a bullet
that disabled her right leg during the terror attack at the
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) Wednesday identified Ajmal
Kasab as one of the two gunmen while her father went
hysterical pleading that this accused be hanged for destroying
her life.

Emotional scenes were witnessed in the courtroom of
Special judge M L Tahaliyani when Devika Rotawan, the youngest
eyewitness to depose in the Mumbai terror attack trial, was
carried into the court by her father and showed poise and
confidence while anwsering questions put to her.

She went into the witness box using crutches and after
taking a seat provided for her told the court she would prefer
to depose in Hindi.

Devika was asked by the court if she could identify the
gunman among the three accused present in the dock to which
the girl pointed towards the Pakistani gunman. Kasab, the lone
surviving gunman, however, did not react.

Devika was among three witnesses to depose Wednesday
regarding the terror strike at the CST rail terminus on the
night of November 26. Her father, Natwarlal, and a Assistant
Police Inspector who was injured also testified.

When asked by the court if her testimony was true,
Devika said, "It is not correct to say that I am telling lies
about Kasab opening fire. I have taken oath in the name of God
I will not tell lies."

Natwarlal, who is also an eyewitness, broke down when
asked by the court if he could identify the gunman who was
shooting at people at the rail terminus.

"It is that fellow who is sitting there. He should be
hanged," Rotwan said pointing at Kasab."He has hurt my
daughter and should be hanged," he said.

When the judge asked Rotowan to calm down, he said, "only
one who gets hurt understands the pain."

Looking at Kasab, he said, "Do such people have any
compassion? Does he not have any parents? It's the question of
my girl's life."

Rotawan, a 45-year-old who hails from Sumerpur in
Rajasthan, told the court he was travelling with his daughter
and son to Pune on November 26 night and the family was
sitting in CST's main waiting hall when the attack took place.

Tahaliyani while verifying if she was a competent witness
asked her whether she knew the meaning of taking oath and
Devika said she did.

"All I know is that I have to speak the truth and it
is a sin to tell lies," the ten-year-old said.

Kasab's Defence counsel Abbas Kazmi chose not to
cross-examine the witness and special judge M L Tahaliyani
asked the girl some questions.

The girl also denied that she had identified Kasab only
because the police had asked her to do so.

Describing the events on the night of November 26
Devika said, "Zordar dhamake ki awaaz aiyi. (There was a loud
explosion) At that time my father said we should leave and
holding me in his arms he started running in one direction
while my brother ran in another direction."

"Just as we were leaving I saw two persons firing at
people. I received a bullet injury in my right leg," she said.

"Mera pair toot gaya, haddi toot gayi aur khoon
nikla (my leg broke, the bone broke and blood came out),"
Devika said the girl who uses crutches to walk. Her brother
Bharat was also present in the court when she deposed. PTI