Andhra Pradesh - Nizamabad   

Saga of a family’s splintered existence

Abdul Rasheed

NIZAMABAD: Though it is exactly a year since Mumbai terrorists struck Abdul Rasheed’s family, the members of his family are yet to come to grips with the rude shock. Fifty-year-old Rasheed who was paralysed with bullet injuries on right hand and left leg is still in bed and immobile at his residence at Mujahid Nagar in 33 division of the town.

Since the main breadwinner of the family has been disabled for life, the family of six are finding it difficult to eke out a living. “How can I feed my family and marry off the children. My husband is still unable to move. Who will come to our rescue”, questions Noorja Begum, wife of Abdul Rasheed, fighting back her tears.

It may be recalled that their daughter Ameena Begum (20) also fell a victim to terrorist bullets on November 26 night at Chhattrapathi Sivaji Terminus (in Mumbai) when she, her elder brother and parents were awaiting their train for return journey back home. She died on the spot, while her father Rasheed sustained three bullet injuries. One bullet ripped through his right hand two pierced his left leg.

They [the Rasheeds] would have escaped the harrowing experience had they not missed the Devagiri Express train at Dadar Railway Station. As Providence would have it, they rushed to CST in the hope of taking another train. Till then they had a happy time having offered prayers at a Dargah in Mumbai.

Ameena was hit by bullets when she was trying to lower down her brother’s daughter as the terrorists rained bullets at the station. She and Hussain, a mason here, had been married for just six months by then. Rasheed’s family returned a few days after treatment at a hospital in Mumbai.

“Though the Railways paid Rs.1.90 lakh ex-gratia, most of it was spent on medicines for my husband. The Rs.5 lakh compensation given by Maharashtra government was shared fifty- fifty between our son-in-law and ourselves as per the wish of religious elders. We used that amount to marry off our other daughter. Now we have no money in hand”, laments Ms. Noorja Begum while urging government to help them.

Abdul Rasheed who owned an autorickshaw sold it away after the incident.

His younger sons drive hired autos to make a living. A family that had hitherto led a decent life has been shattered following the November 26 mayhem.

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