Malegaon blast: ‘Relief… can sleep well tonight’

At home,Dr Salman Farsi repeatedly told reporters that “words are still difficult to come. One must just stick to emotions. That is how we feel,emotional.”

There were also house calls from neighbours and relatives. At the house of Noorulhuda where his father Shumshud had recalled that relatives had stopped visiting since 2007,a group of old family friends had gathered. Noorulhuda was busy speaking of his days in the jail. “The only point is the need for better governance so that there is no discrimination against members of a community during police investigation,” he said.

At Abrar Ahmed’s house in Islampura,his father Ghulam Ahmed said,“While the four-year wait was terrible,it was the last five days that were painful. The court had given the bail order and we had to wait for the cumbersome paperwork.” Abrar added that “it’s difficult to walk with a tag. But now it’s like a huge burden has come off. Those initial days were very difficult. The police tried everything to harass,they even sent a cop charged under Section 420 to jail as an accused who would threaten me every day to succumb and give their version. This was after I had retracted my forced approver statement. Now,there is a sense of relief and security. I can sleep well tonight.”

Meanwhile,the silent protest conducted by the citizens of Malegaon was finally withdrawn. “This was a fight for justice. Our demand now is for a fair trial where the guilty are punished and the nine innocent are given compensation,” said Khaliq Siddiqee.