Just a Bhatkal won’t do, say kin

Relatives of those killed in the Dilsukhnagar blasts are still inconsolable and want punishment for culprits commensurate to the heinous nature of the crime

An angry crowd, which gathered at one of the sites of the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts, shouted slogans and carried the national flag, calling for Bhatkal to be hanged. — Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

“Why did they arrest him alive? I still dream of confronting and asking him what did he get out of this violence? What did he prove by snuffing out young lives? It’s been six months and eight days since Aijaz’s death, and I still can’t sleep properly at night,” says Asghar Ali, father of 17-year-old Aijaz Ahmed who was killed in the Dilsukhnagar blast on February 21.

For the families of the deceased and injured in the Dilsukhnagar blasts, the news of the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal on Thursday morning triggered painful memories of the day. The anger and the urge to exact fitting retribution were palpable among the relatives of the deceased and those who survived the blasts but were maimed for a lifetime.

Majority of those who lost their dear ones are yet to recover from the nightmare. For those who sustained injuries, eking out a living is a struggle.

“I lost one eye in the blast. When I learnt about the arrest, I felt that the terrorist should be given harsh punishment for what he did to my life. Immediately after the blasts, everybody promised jobs for those who were maimed. Now, the authorities are saying that I’m not eligible for a job, because I lost only one eye instead of two,” says Yadgiri (26).

Those who lost their near and dear ones are still inconsolable and demand punishment commensurate to the heinous nature of the crime.

“Police should not spare him or display any leniency towards him. I’m willing to confront the terrorist and avenge the death of my younger brother. We are yet to recover from grief, and a severe punishment could perhaps bring closure to our emotions,” feels Amrutha Kumar, elder brother of the blast victim, Amrutha Ravi, who was preparing for Sub-Inspector recruitment test.

The victims charged that the authorities had neither done justice to the families of the blast victims nor taken proper measures to rehabilitate the injured.

“They have arrested only one person. What about the other terrorists behind the blasts? When are they going to arrest them? They should have launched a complete rehabilitation for victims,” says Mohan Reddy, an engineering graduate who is yet to fully regain his hearing.