New Delhi: Sixteen years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Devika Rotawan, a key witness who identified Ajmal Kasab, continues to grapple with the physical and emotional scars of that night. At just nine years old, Devika found herself caught in the chaos at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), sustaining a bullet wound to her leg that continues to haunt her, especially during colder months.
“I still feel pain in my leg, and sometimes it swells during the winter, but I am proud that I stood up for what was right,” Devika said.
The vivid memories of November 26, 2008, remain etched in her mind. Travelling with her father and brother to Pune, their journey ended abruptly with a bomb blast and the ensuing gunfire at CSMT. Surrounded by the injured and dying, Devika was rushed to St George’s Hospital before being transferred to JJ Hospital for surgery to remove the bullet. The month-long recovery period was only the beginning of her healing journey.
“It’s been 16 years, but I can still remember what I was doing, where I was going, and how the attack happened,” Devika said while speaking to news agency PTI on the eve of the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks.
Returning to her Rajasthan home, the trauma lingered. However, when the Mumbai Crime Branch contacted her family, seeking her testimony, Devika’s family readily agreed, without a second thought. Devika’s crucial identification of Ajmal Kasab played a key role in his conviction. “We agreed because both my father and I had seen the terrorists, and I could identify Ajmal Kasab, the man who caused so much pain,” Devika said.
Despite her youthful age at the time, Devika’s testimony was critical to the trial. She recalls the intense emotions she felt, “I wanted to kill him, but I was just nine. I could do nothing but identify him in court.” This experience instilled in her a profound desire to see an end to terrorism and a call for societal accountability.
While physically, Devika still endures pain and swelling in her leg during winter, her spirit remains unbroken. Despite the ongoing physical challenges, her courage underscores her resilience and commitment to justice. She advocates for greater support for victims of terrorism, urging others to stand with those affected by such violence.
The Mumbai terror attack happened on November 26, 2008, and continued for 3 days until November 29. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, and the Nariman House Jewish Community Centre were some of the places targeted.
The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai’s additional police commissioner Ashok Kamte and senior police inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attacks. Also, nine terrorists were later neutralised by the security forces.
Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.
