1993 Mumbai blast victim regrets only one terrorist given death penalty

Fifty-five-year old Kirti Ajmera, who was seriously injured in the 1993 blasts and operated upon more than 40 times, today expressed disappointment with only one terrorist in the case being awarded death sentence.

"I wished the Supreme Court would have retained the death sentence given by the trial court to all those terrorists. But that did not happen," Ajmera, a builder by profession, said.

Incidentally, twenty years on, Ajmera is yet to receive Rs 25,000 that he was entitled to as compensation declared by the state government.

"Many victims like me did not receive any compensation. Supreme Court should order the government to ensure that the victims are given compensation at the earliest," he added.

On actor Sanjay Dutt's sentence, Ajmera said, "This would set an example to the high profile personalities that nobody can escape after committing a crime. This would act as a deterrent to the bigwigs."

Recalling the horror, Ajmera said that on March 12,1993, he had gone to the Bombay Stock Exchange( one of the 12 spots where the serial blasts took place) and narrowly escaped death.

"I was rushed to GT Hospital but there were no beds available as it was full with the victims. The right side of my body still gives me pain and I have been operated upon more than 40 times on my body,"

"After the blast, my arm had almost severed. If I hadn't held my arm, it would have fallen off. A large shard of glass broke my ribs and punctured my lungs. The right side of my face was also smashed by a large piece of glass. Another shard that had burst my inner ear drum had to be removed from my right ear," he recalled.

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