26/11 'witness' eager to fight civic polls

Following the 26/11 attacks, Anita Udaiya, 42, a resident of Machimaar Colony in Badhwar Park, became a regular on TV news channels for some time.

These days, Udaiya wants to join the league of politicians holding office at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters. 

Udaiya had claimed that she had seen Mohammad Ajmal Kasab and nine other terrorists alighting from a dinghy just behind her hut at Cuffe Parade.

Udaiya had also claimed that she was kidnapped by personnel from a foreign agency and taken abroad, where she was questioned and interrogated for a few days. However, she was unable to provide proof to substantiate her claims.

The Mumbai police, investigating the 26/11 attack, questioned her several times and recorded her statement.

“Some people had approached me in the past and asked me to join them in political campaigns. I was not keen then. But the civic elections are approaching and if am supported by a political party, I will contest,” said Udaiya.

She added, “The 26/11 attack has brought a drastic change in my life. Earlier, I went to work as a domestic help in areas like Khetwadi, but now I am scared and don’t go anywhere. I keep calling my son and husband five to six times a day until they return home from their workplace and college.”