‘Judge 'saab,' please hang him. He has ruined my daughter’s life’

It was 9.50 pm on November 26 last year, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). Passengers waiting for trains on the mainline platforms heard a loud explosion. Two terrorists — one taller than the other — allegedly sprayed bullets at the waiting passengers, killing many. Three witnesses, who were lucky to survive the attack, gave their accounts of the horrifying incident at the court on Wednesday.

Natwarlal Rotawan, 45, from Rajasthan, who now lives in Bandra (East), was at CST on 26/11 night. Along with his two children —  Jayesh, 14, and Devika, 10 — he was on way to Pune to visit his eldest son, Bharat. They were waiting for the train near platform No.13.

Natwarlal’s account
We reached the CST around 9 pm, and were sitting in the main hall. At 9:50 pm, I heard a loud explosion. In front of platform No.13, there were two terrorists — one short and another tall — firing indiscriminately with their machine guns .

I tried to leave the main hall with my children. My son ran in one direction; me and Devika dashed off in another direction. One of the bullets hit Devika’s right leg. It broke... I saw people falling like flies. Some lost their hands, some their legs, some died. I just kept on sitting there, holding on to Devika.

I then saw both terrorists walk away towards the local platforms. Some people and the police came and took us to St George Hospital. By then, Devika was unconscious. She regained her senses around 1:30 am. She couldn’t bear to see the pile of bodies at the hospital and told me to take her away. We shifted her to JJ Hospital the next morning. She was there in bed for the next one and a half months.

I saw the terrorists at a distance of about 20-25 feet.
(When asked to identify the accused, Natwarlal got agitated)

Yeh kamina, nalayak saamne hai. Haramzaada. He broke my daughter’s leg. Judge saab, please hang him. He has ruined our lives. He has ruined my daughter’s life. Trust me, he is the one who shot at the people there... Jisko lagta hai usko dard hota hai. Doesn’t he have parents?

Devika’s deposition
Judge Tahiliyani (J): You study?
Devika (D): I used to. Not any more.
J: Do you understand the meaning of God?
D: Yes
J: Do you understand the meaning of taking oath before God?
D: Yes.
J: What happens after taking an oath?
D: After taking an oath, lying becomes a sin. God gives punishment.
J: Will you take oath before God?
D: Yes
J: Are you feeling scared?
D: No
J: Will you sit down or stand?
D: You tell me
J: You understand Hindi or Marathi?
D: Hindi

(Judge arranges for a chair in the witness box for her)

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam (N): Do you remember the day when you were shot?
D: Yes. It was on November 26
N: Where were you going?
D: To Bharat bhai’s house in Pune. I was waiting at VT station with pappa and brother.
N: What happened?
D: I heard a loud explosion. Pappa said, “Let’s leave.” Then the firing began. My brother ran in one direction. I was with my father. I was hit on my right leg (lifts leg and shows the wound). I fell down. My leg broke. My bones broke. Blood was oozing out.
N: Then what happened?
D: I don’t know. I woke up in hospital.
N: You saw any of the shooters?
D: I saw one (pointing towards Kasab). The first one on the side.
Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi (AK): I put to you that you didn’t see the accused.
D: I saw him. I swear on God I do not lie.

Farooqi Naseeruddin Khaliluddin, 53, farmer from Jalgaon
I and my son, Farooqi Abdul Razzaq, were at CST on November 26. We had come to the city to visit my brother-in-law, Iqbaluddin Bismillah, before he left for Haj on November 27. We met him and were leaving for Jalgaon on November 26. We had reservations in Rajendra Nagar Express at 11.25 pm.

We reached CST around 9 pm. We were waiting in the main hall. Around 9.50 pm, we heard a loud explosion. Terrified, we stood up, not knowing what to do. Two young boys were standing in front of platform 13 with guns in their hands. Both carried bags. They started spraying bullets at passengers. People were running helter skelter. We dived to the floor and lay flat.

The taller boy who was shooting took out a bomb (hand-grenade) and lobbed it at us. Both me and my son got injured. The other boy who was firing (referring to Kasab) looked happy shooting at people.

N: Can you identify the accused?
Naseer: Identify? How can I forget him. (Pointing at Kasab) His hair was longer then. It is cut now. He is the one who was shooting at everyone. We were at JJ Hospital for about a week. After returning to Jalgaon, we were confined to bed for a month and half. My son wanted to become a doctor... he became a patient.
Kazmi: Did you see Kasab’s photo in newspapers or television?
Naseer: I saw him in front of me. There was no need to see him on television.