Death wish

After the posthumous honour for 26/11 cops, grieving widows and children say, all they now want is Qasab hanged

After the posthumous honour for 26/11 cops, grieving widows and children say, all they now want is Qasab hanged

While the prosecution in the 26/11 terror trial painstakingly reads out page after page from the 11,000-page chargesheet, the kin of the policemen martyred during the terror attacks can't wait for the trial to reach a speedy conclusion.

Though the state as well as the central government has compensated the families of the deceased policemen, with monetary benefits, life-long accommodation, government jobs, and even erected statues and named parks/roads after them, nothing other than the death penalty for Mohammad Ajmal Qasab will satisfy them.

At a recent police function to pay homage to the martyrs who lost their lives in the line of duty, the department promised to erect statues and dedicate police chowkies after them.

When MiD DAY spoke to the families about the department's move, revenge was all that they had on their mind.

However, even 200 days after the trial in one of the most gruesome terror attacks in the history of the city began, there is still no sign of a speedy conclusion.

UNFORGIVING: The families of the policemen martyred during the terror attacks want revenge.

There are nearly 2,202 witnesses that have to be examined and Qasab's antics in court have delayed the proceedings.

Qasab, who is housed in an air-conditioned bunker at Arthur Road jail, has been making silly requests to disturb the proceedings of the trial court.

From asking for non-veg food in jail, laughing in court, to requests to meet his mother, Qasab has made every possible effort to disrupt the trial that has cost the state over Rs 3 crore so far.

Rs 40 lakh
The approximate cost of u00a0erecting an 18-ft bronze statue u00a0of the martyrs

Rs 2 crore
Cost of building the bunker and tunnel that connects to the trial court at Arthur Road jail

12
Number of closed circuit cameras that monitor Qasab's every move when he is not in the courtroom

60
Number of commandos of the Indo Tibetan Border Police who guard Qasab round-the-clock

After The Awards...
Daughter replaces Omble at Worli police station

Assistant Sub-inspector Tukaram Omble was killed while capturing Mohammad Ajmal Qasab at Chowpatty
Vandana, Omble's second daughter said, "My youngest sister Bharti recently got into the traffic department of the Worli police in my father's place"

After their father's death, the Omble family has moved on with their life says Bharti. "It doesn't matter how many statues are built or places are named after our father. My father is dead now."

Status:
> Cairn India named one of its oilfields after Tukaram Omble
> A road, near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, has been named in the honour of Omble
> His statue has been installed at Worli naka

'Don't want statue, just hang Qasab'

Constable Yogesh Patil died at Cama Hospital Patil's elder brother, Narendra said, "I don't want a statue of my brother to be erected in Mumbai. First, I want Qasab to be hanged.
u00a0
That is the only thing that will bring a smile to our family's face."

Status: No statue has been erected for Patil so far. Family wants Qasab hanged

Monetary help will vanish

Constable Arun Chitte lost his life at Metro Cinema Manisha, Chitte's widow, wants a statue of her husband to be placed near her home, so that people remember his sacrifice.
u00a0
"The monetary help from the government will get exhausted soon. I think we deserve a monument to recall his deeds," she said.

Status: Wants a statue erected after her husband and death penalty for Qasab