Posted on 11/22/2012 11:01:03 AM PST by James C. Bennett
Tukaram Omble, Girgaum martyr
"A terrorist like him should have been hanged in public, but I know our laws don't permit this,'' said Eknath, younger brother of Tukaram Omble, who helped capture Ajmal Kasab alive. "I am proud that my brother's efforts have paid off. We have been waiting for this for four long years. My family is happy,'' he added.
At Girgaum Chowpatty, unarmed assistant sub-inspector Omble had helped stop the Skoda hijacked by Kasab and Ismail Khan, and held on to Kasab despite the latter spraying him with bullets from his AK-47.
Omble's youngest daughter Bharati has joined Mumbai police's traffic wing as a clerk. His eldest daughter Vaishali is studying for her Masters of Education degree in Mumbai University. Both had switched off their phones on Wednesday and their uncle Eknath said any discussion about 26/11 and Tukaram's martyrdom makes them emotional. -Rajshri Mehta
Vijay Salaskar, Cama lane martyr
Smita Salaskar, wife of encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar killed by Ajmal Kasab and Ismail Khan, said Kasab's has given her satisfaction that justice has been done. "I am happy and delighted that my husband's killer has been executed. But I will feel fully satisfied that my husband's sacrifice has not gone in vain when the masterminds shielded in Pakistan are brought to justice,'' said Smita.
Salaskar was among the first casualities of 26/11 along with ATS chief Hemant Karkare and additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte. Four years on, the family is finally coming to terms with Salaskar's death. "There is no U-turn for a wife who has lost her husband. But I am happy as I have my daughters with me,'' said Smita, adding daughter Divya now plans to write a book on her father. -Rajshri Mehta & S Ahmed Ali
Vishnu Zende, Railway announcer
For 23 years, Vishnu Zende (43) served Indian Railways as a public announcer, routinely blaring schedules of suburban trains. But 26/11 spiraled him into a public hero of sorts. Showing presence of mind, Zende used the same public announcement system to warn passengers at CST station about terrorists' indiscriminately opening fire and directed crowds to appropriate exits they could use. The announcements saved several lives. On Wednesday, he was a relieved man. "I was very happy that justice is served. I believe it was a very good decision that he was not given a chance to appeal again but was hanged soon," he said.
Even four years later, Zende recalls how just a glass barrier separated his cabin from terrorists about 50 metres away. "You can't imagine the chaos with crowded platforms and the terrorists firing away," he said. He believes his efficient response owed much to training he received as an NCC cadet in his youth. "Much could be achieved because of alertness. Public awareness and training is the key to avert bigger casualties during such incidents," he said. -Madhavi Rajadhyaksha
Devika Rotawan, survivor, prime witness
At the age of 10, she stood in a witness box and identified terrorist Ajmal Kasab as the man who sprayed bullets on people at CST railway station on November 26, 2008. The spunky Devika Rotawan, now 13, woke up on Wednesday to news of Kasab's hanging. "At first I couldn't believe it. But it sunk in once people started calling to congratulate me," said Devika. She distinctly recalls standing in court and telling the judge that Kasab should get 'faasi' (hanged).
The trauma of the violence imprinted on her is palpable. Rotawan was waiting for an outstation train with her father and brother when she was shot in the right leg and watched many others die. "I have been following terror cases closely. Even Afzal Guru should be hanged," she said emphatically. Steeled by the experience, she now wants to join the IPS. The incident has left a shadow on the Rotawan family, much beyond the rod inserted in Devika's right leg. Her father Natwarlal said they are no longer invited to weddings as people fear a retaliatory attack as Devika spoke out as a witness. "Even people in the Bandra slum where we stay stigmatise us as they fear for their safety," he said. -Madhavi Rajadhyaksha
Hemant Karkare, slain ATS chief
Slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare's wife Kavita said, "I am satisfied that Kasab has been hanged but unless the real culprits are brought to trial I feel the martyrs will not get justice. Kasab was hanged because he was Pakistani and it was easy for the government. But the government has not yet answered my questions: How did the terrorists sneak into India? What were the security agencies doing? Why did my husband lie injured for 40 minutes and no help reach them? Why didn't other senior police officers go to his help? Why was my husband's bullet-proof jacket not found? Why has no action been initiated against officers who failed to act? Why has the government failed to track the local helpers, because the attack was not possible without local help? Why has the Ram Pradhan committee report not been implemented? I feel the martyrs will get full justice only if we go to the root cause of the attack." -S Ahmed Ali
Shashank Shinde, GRP inspector killed at CST
The family of slain GRP inspector Shashank Shinde had lost all hope that Ajmal Kasab would ever be hanged. "It was a surprise for us early on Wednesday when news channels announced Kasab had been hanged in Pune. All this while we feared Kasab's case would drag on like that of Afzal Guru. A four-year wait was long enough," said Shinde's wife, Mansi.
"I think it was a great decision to keep it a secret and make an announcement only after his death. The reason could have been to eliminate any hurdles which parties with vested interests might create," she said.
After Shinde died fighting terrorists at CST, Mansi was allotted a gas agency by the state government at Nalasopara. Life has been tough, commuting between Nalasopara and her Wadala home and bringing up her two daughters. The family added they were thankful to President Pranab Mukherjee for rejecting Kasab's mercy petition. "Justice has been finally done," Mansi said.
-Nitasha Natu
Sadanand Date, JCP
Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Sadanand Date was injured in the exchange of fire with Ajmal Kasab and Ismail Khan at Cama Hospital on 26/11. Speaking to TOI on Wednesday he said, "It is a satisfying moment as a police officer and as a citizen. We were able to fight terrorists and catch Kasab alive. The entire gamut of the operation—from his arrest to the fair trial to the hanging—proves that systems function effectively in this country." -C Unnikrishnan
US calls Kasab execution a step towards justice
Kasab was just a pawn sent to India by terrorists in pakistan. Osama’s right hand man Jawahiri has received sanctuary in Pakistan. Taliban leaders are given sanctuary in Pakistan from where insurgents regularly attack our soldiers in Afghanistan killing many and wounding many more.
But we keep borrowing money from China to give free aid to Pakistan, Billions of dollars every year. Who will repay that debt to China? You know the answer. We Americans are such pathetic suckers.
Good for India.
Abolish death penalty, UN chief asks nations
As India executed Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called upon nations to abolish the death penalty....
“US calls Kasab execution a step towards justice.”
Really? Does that mean we can expect a similar solution for KSM any time soon? I won’t hold my breath.
Maybe KSM’s execution of justice can be outsourced to India.
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