Remembering 26/11: Our community has ostracised us

Natwarlal Rotawan's daughter was shot in her leg at the gruesome 26/11 attacks and had to undergo six surgeries. But if that was not enough reason to grieve about, Rotawan and his family have been outcast by friends and extended relatives because they witnessed the attacks.

Rotawan was with his nine-year-old daughter Devika, and 14-year-old son, Jayesh, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on the evening of November 26, 2008, when terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail fired indiscriminately.

On that fateful evening, the Rotawan family was waiting to board a train to Pune when they heard a loud explosion. Jayesh ran in one direction to secure himself while Natwarlal and Devika looked for cover in the opposite direction when Kasab shot a bullet that hit Devika's leg. She was the youngest eyewitness deposed in court to identify Kasab.

Recalling his distress Rotawan said, "We have a joint family of more than 100 people in Sumerpur village, Rajasthan. However, our family neither allows us inside the house nor have they invited us to any functions in last nine years. Pakistan border is less than 40 km from our village and our family fears that they may be attacked by terrorists if we stay with them. Whenever we visit Rajasthan, we stay in a private hotel. I lost my mother three years ago, but my family did not call me. My nephew is getting married on December 4, but we haven't been invited to the wedding ceremony," he shared.

"We have been ostracised from the business community too, he added.