Kin of Hyderabad blast victims upset with judgment

HYDERABAD: Families of the victims of the twin blasts of Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park have raised key questions following the partial judgment on Tuesday. Did the police know where the main accused Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal were currently taking shelter? And how many more years would it take for them to apprehend the accused?  Some of the family of the victims even questioned the credibility of the investigators in failing to produce evidence against those who were in jail for the last 11 years.

The victims’ kin also demanded capital punishment for those accused of carrying out the deadly blasts. Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, B. Anjaiah, father of Sravanthi, who died in the blast at Gokul Chat on August 25, 2007 said, “The police said that they have identified eight persons, but arrested five persons. The court on Tuesday convicted only two persons and acquitted two others. How many are actually involved in the blasts? What about Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal, who are said to have conspired and made the bombs. Where are they now and do the police even know where are they hiding?”

“My daughter would have been doing a job by this time. She was just 14 when I lost her in the unfortunate incident. Whatever is the punishment given to them, it does not mean justice for the bereaved families,” Anjaiah said. After the judgment, R. Chander Nayak, who was 18 years old when he suffered eye injuries in the blast, told the media that he was disappointed over the acquittal of two of the accused. He urged the state government to appeal against the acquittal in the higher court.

Holding a placard in his hands asking Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to take some time out to meet the victims of the blasts, Chander Nayak said, “I lost my right eye and I have no job. The government should help the victims and also go for an appeal in the High Court against the judgment of the lower court in acquitting two people. They (convicted persons) should be hanged according to the law.” Syed Rahim, who lost an eye in the blast, said, “The convicted persons should be given capital punishment. Where is the absconding accused? They should be caught by the police.”

Vasantha, mother of victim Sadasiva Reddy told the media, “My son’s life was completely damaged by the blast. He cannot walk and even talk. As a mother, I can feel his pain. He cannot ask for food even when he is hungry. Those who carried out the blasts should be punished and made to suffer in a similar manner.”