2006 Mumbai train blasts: Victims’ kin want death penalty for 12 convicts

Mumbai: Even as nine long years have passed, wounds have not healed for the victims of the 2006 serial train blasts and their kin. The victims that the Deccan Chronicle spoke to, in wake of the conviction order on Friday, stressed that stringent punishment should be awarded to the convicted accused.

Speaking with a very heavy heart, 32-year-old Yuvraj, son of Ramdas Shirodkar, 52, who was killed in the blast at Mira road said, “I feel they (the convicted accused) should also be given the same punishment they had given my innocent father. It was a horrifying day and I was searching for him till the early hours in the hope that he was alive.”

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“The next day I identified his body from the French beard he used to sport. The worst part was breaking the news to my mother and sister. I had to shoulder a lot of responsibility after the incident. Our pet dog, which was very close to dad, did not eat properly for a month. After this blast I realised what happened to others can happen to anyone,” he added. Ramdas Shirodkar was a creative head designer with a private company and was homebound.

Borivali resident Vivek Salvi’s daughter, Dr Aparna Salvi, 29, lost a finger and suffered minor head injuries in the blast at Jogeshwari. Mr Salvi said, “My daughter was a medical student back then. A person who loses a body part doesn’t get it back. The compensation does not matter. Due to this incident our lives have changed completely.”

Dadar resident Anil Parab, 61, whose eardrums cracked due to the blast at Matunga, said, “I was lucky because I was standing by the door. All those who were seated perished. I still can’t put water in my ear. I still have vivid memories of the bloodshed and I can’t forget it. Killing people is their religion.”