After the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal, the survivors relived the horror of that evening which has left an indelible mark on their mind.
Sixtyfive-year-old Kantilal Jhala had gone with his friends to have coffee at German Bakery on the ill-fated day. “I am still bearing the pain as very minute particles of the metal that pierced my body gives me pain even today. These particles are so minute that they cannot be removed with any surgery.”
Jhala said, “The blast was so powerful that because of it’s high impact sound, I lost 40% of my hearing capacity. I used to work in a private firm but now I left everything and work at the Osho ashram.”
For Hardesh Jindal who lost his only daughter Aditi in the blast hasn’t visited Pune where his relatives reside, for last three years. Jindal who is based in Ambala said, “The arrests are made but they are late. I fear that the way Himayat Baig’s capital punishment has yet not been carried out, the way Abu Jindal is still not given any punishment, Bhatkal too may stay in jail for over years. I wonder why the President of this country has the right and power to forgive a criminal,” said Jindal.
Yogita Pansare, the widow of Shankar – an autorikshaw driver who died in the German Bakery blast – said she was happy that one by one the killers of her husband are getting arrested. “But my happiness does not end after their arrest but will be valid only when they are hang to death. My seven-year-old son Omkar was first to hear the news on television and he rushed towards me. He said TV is showing something about German Bakery. As my two children know how their father was killed, they are very badly affected. The moment we try to come out of the trauma, again such news connect us to the past.”
Lawyer Sumeet Singh, who had come to Pune from Mumbai with his friend Vinita Pathak to judge a contest at Symbiosis law school, lost his two friends in the blast. He had suffered 30 % burns on face, hands and legs. “I had lost hope that the handler and IM operative Yasin Bhatkal who was responsible for producing many terrorist like him would be arrested. This arrest is an eye opener for all who is indulging in terror activities.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}