It was on October 29, 2005 that Ram Jivan, an employee of the hugely popular Shyam Juice Corner located inside Sarojini Nagar picked up the bomb-laden suitcase lying near the shop. His employer, Lalchand Saluja, suspected something "fishy" in the bag and insisted he pick it up and raise an alarm. Seconds later, Jivan, Saluja and another employee - Babloo were blown to pieces in what remains to be till date one of the worst terror attacks in the city.
Seven years later, when the kin of every other victim has received the mandatory "non-traceable" certificate from the Sarojini Nagar police, Jivan's brother Ram Kishore is still running between the Sarojini Nagar police station and the local SDM office.
Kishore lives in Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh with his family. The certificate can fetch him Rs 4.5 lakh, a huge compensation for a family who work as bonded agricultural labourers. "I waited for the mandatory seven years to pass before the government could declare him dead. Each day has been a battle during which I lost my parents. I found four other families going through the same ordeal. These included the families of Sayan Mukhopadhaya and S Ganeshan. After the high court order was passed certificates were given to everyone but me. How can the police be so negligent," asked Kishore.
Kishore said he had applied in January on behalf of his brother. "Everytime, I visit the police station, they tell me that my case is pending either with the Special Cell or Special Branch and they have no role in it,'' claimed Kishore. The Special Cell denied any pendency regarding the Sarojini Nagar blast case. "As per our records, we have cleared all applications,'' said a senior officer.
Earlier, in the non-traceable report prepared by the SHO of the Sarojini Nagar police station in the case of Sayan Mukhopadhaya, it was stated by cops that the Special Cell has told them that all deceased have been identified except for four dead bodies.
Meanwhile, back at Sarojini Nagar, the mini-market association president Ashok Randhawa said he wants to hand three photographs — those of the juice shop owner Lalchand Saluja and his employees Ram Jivan and Babloo — so as to bolster Kishore's case.
Neighboring shopkeepers remembered the three victims being "good friends." "I am alive because of them. He picked up the bag with the bomb and was about to throw it when it exploded," said Premji, owner of Vicky Selection, a store in the area.
Sunday 9 June 2013
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/8-years-on-Sarojini-blast-victims-kin-yet-to-get-dues/articleshow/20500784.cms
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