Youngest Witness In Ajmal Kasab Case Faces Prejudice As 26/11 Masterminds Roam Free

It has been ten years since the ghastly Mumbai terror attack rocked India on November 26, 2008. Mumbai was held hostage for three days by a group of ten terrorists.

Backpackers with assault rifles opened fire at people at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, blew up a gas station near Nariman House, attacked posh Leopold Cafe and carried out a mass shooting at Taj Palace and neighbouring Oberoi-Trident hotel.

150 guests were evacuated by MARCOS (Marine Commando Force) personnel as over 160 people were killed and a hundred others were left injured. The accident is considered one of the most gruesome attacks in Indian history. As the world recounts horrific details of the terror attack, we engage with survivors who have been fighting this battle since the last decade.

Among hundreds of people who were fortunate enough to survive this assault was a ten-year-old girl from Bandra, Devika Rotawan. Devika is the youngest witness against the main convict, Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged to death in November 2012.

Photo: Devika Rotawan/ Devika on crutches when she was just ten years old

Just a month away from celebrating her tenth birthday, little did Devika know that her life after 26/11 will be transformed completely. In a conversation with Indiatimes, Devika narrates her story:

The Terror Attack

¡°In the evening, I, my father and my older brother, Jayesh, were going to meet one of our cousins in Pune. We reached CST from Bandra when my brother said he wanted to visit the washroom. As he entered the washroom, sudden firing began at the CST station and everybody started running.

As I and my father also ran for our lives, I was hit by a bullet in my right leg and fell to the ground. My father also fell on top of me and all the blood that had flown out of my body soaked him in the colour of blood. He pretended to act as if he had been shot dead to trick the terrorist and so did he survive.

Photo: Devika with her father Mr Natwarlal

While I fell unconscious, those few minutes were enough for me to identify Ajmal Kasab, who was basking in his glory, firing indiscriminately at people with his AK-47 rifle and a big smile on his face.

¡°Uske face par ek smile thi jab vo logo ko maar raha tha.¡± tells Devika.

She was then taken to nearby St. George hospital for an operation but was later shifted to the J.J hospital in Nagpada for further treatment. ¡°Main 1.5 mahina hospital mein rahi. 6 baar mera operation hua.¡± (I was admitted to the hospital for 1.5 months and got an operation done six times)

Luckily, Devika reunited with her brother at the hospital who survived without any major health issue. While the young girl remained bedridden, she was helped by her brother in nursing and dressing.

¡°Jab vo meri hospital mein madad karta tha toh baaki patients ne bhi bola ki humaari bhi help kardo.¡± (When he used to help me dress, other 26/11 patients too sought his help). He would tend to their wounds without wearing gloves and in the process, he caught a life-threatening infection.

Photo: Devika (middle) with her brother, Jayesh (Right) and father (Left)

He developed a serious condition in his spinal cord due to which his backbone had become a little bent. He also developed a lump in his throat. He is 23-year-old now but his frame remains bent.

Devika had always faced a tough life. She was just recovering from her mother¡¯s demise in 2006 when other tragedy struck her. However, she had always been taught by her father, Mr Natwarlal to never be afraid of anyone and to face every challenge head-on.

After recovering from her bullet injury, Devika went to her native village in Rajasthan. There she was contacted by Mumbai police officers to come and identify the terrorists. A young, undeterred Devika decided to testify against the then 21-year-old, Kasab.

She went for her first confession to the court on June 10, 2009. ¡°Three terrorists were presented before me and the moment I saw the one sitting closest to the judge, I identified Kasab who killed hundreds of people.¡±

Photo Source: Devika Rotawan/ The bullet mark that was fired in her right leg by 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab

However, Devika¡¯s battle had just begun. Her father¡¯s dry fruit business crashed as people were scared to even talk to them. ¡°Wherever we went, people won¡¯t support us, won¡¯t talk to us because they were scared that Kasab¡¯s men will kill them.¡±

Devika couldn¡¯t study due to lack of money after her mother passed away. She had to leave school at the age of eight when she was in class 3.

ALSO READ: 10 Years After 26/11, One Man Still Remembers Kasab Grinning As He Sprayed People With Bullets

Once the Mumbai attack was over Devika wanted to make a fresh start and decided to resume her studies. ¡®Nobody would give me admission. The Principal would say if I join their school then other students¡¯ lives will be put at risk.

"Aap aaoge toh firing hogi school mein, principal ne kaha.¡±

A local organisation then fought for Devika¡¯s rights and she finally got admission in 7th standard in the same school.

I Was Dubbed As ¡®Kasab Ki Beti¡¯

In addition to being four years behind in education than her peers, Devika was frequently called out ¡®Kasab ki beti¡¯ and made fun of in school. She struggled to grasp concepts and battled humiliation and mockery at school.

(Left) 10 years ago: Devika in the hospital; (Right) A 20-year-old Devika a decade later

None of these problems was big enough to make Devika feel helpless or weak. Sky is the limit for a news junkie like her as she dreams of becoming an IPS officer. ¡°Humein bohaut saari dhamkiyan bhi mili phone par ki maar denge.¡± (We also received death threats on phone calls that we will be killed).

¡°All our close family members including my cousins and my uncles cut us loose for the fear of retaliation from terrorists. We aren¡¯t invited to any house, not to any marriages or religious ceremonies.¡±

We had to struggle a lot in finding a house as house rents were hiked for us and we were troubled to the point where we were forced to leave the neighbourhood. ¡°Sab apni marzi se rent maangte the.¡± (Every landlord would demand a rent as per his wishes)

Photo; (File) AFP/ Indian policeman checks accident site, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on November 26, 2008

I was given only Rs 3,26,000 compensation, but it all got used up in my tuberculosis treatment. Instead of the government helping Devika in building a brighter future, Taj hotel helped fund her education.

¡®I ran from pillar to post in government offices as we were promised a home. However, our application was mischievously taken away by an official from Bandra collector office who had once come home.¡±

Devika informs that she hasn¡¯t been provided with even basic accommodation and has been left on her own. She even wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis who didn¡¯t respond to any of her pleas.

Photo: BCCL/ Devika pictured in November 2012

Devika demands that her basic expenses like that of housing and education should be taken care of so that she can realise her dream of becoming an IPS officer. She wants to be an officer so that she can put an end to all this misery.

A decade later, Devika is battling a thousand bullets that can make or mar her future than the one that left her to the crutches in 2008. She concludes by saying that she is remembered only on 26/11, a stark reminder of the fact that the now 20-year-old still awaits absolute justice.