26/11 Survivor moves Bombay High Court seeking Home, Education Assistance

One of the youngest survivors of the Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attacks has appealed the Bombay HC, seeking a direction to the Maharashtra Govt to allot residential premises for her impoverished family & also to make provision for her undergraduate education.

Devika Rotawan (21), an eyewitness to the carnage that took place nearly twelve years ago, filed the plea on Aug 21, expressing apprehension that her family would be rendered homeless as they have not been able to pay monthly rent for their room owing to acute financial constraints.

She was 9 years old at the time of Nov 26, 2008, terror attacks at multiple locations in the city by a group of Pakistani terrorists. On that day, she was at the Mumbai CSMT railway station, one of the attack sites, along with her father & brother.

The petition said Rotawan suffered a bullet injury on her leg, while her father & brother, too, were sustained wounds. Because of several morbidities, it was not possible for her father & brother to earn a livelihood.

Rotawan, in her plea, said that after the attacks several Central & state government officials had visited her house & assured to provide them accommodation under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota.

The officials, she alleged in her plea, also assured to make adequate arrangements for her education & monetary assistance for her & her family's medical treatment.

The plea further said she was a key eyewitness in the trial held against the lone captured terrorist Ajmal Kasab.

"In 2009, the petitioner approached the Maharashtra Govt seeking assistance but in vain, the petition said.

At present, there is no law or policy which provides rehabilitative measures for victims of such terror attacks. Due to the absence of such a law, the need of victims for rehabilitation remains unattended, the petition said.

Rotawan has sought a direction to the state government to provide her accommodation under the EWS quota & also financial assistance for her education. The petition is likely to be heard next week. 

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