Devika Rotawan, the key witness of 26/11 attacks is in the verge of homelessness

Maharashtra News:Devika Rotawan at 10-years of age was a key witness in identifying one of the deadliest perpetrators, Ajmal Kasab of 26/11 attacks. She was also a survivor of the attack, wounded after getting shot in her leg. As she grew up eventually, she was one of the key survivors who lived to tell her story of what happened that fateful night, that shook the country.

Devika Rotawan

She and her family now are on the verge of getting rendered homeless as they desperately wait to hear from their plea to the Bombay High Court that ordered the government to provide them with a house. Devika said that their landlord has asked them to vacate their house by May 10th amid the pandemic.

She said that the lockdown in force to contain the second wave has made it difficult for them to seek another house and shift somewhere else in a short notice. She also said that last year she had trouble paying rent and asked her acquaintances to borrow some. Though the house owner is ready to waive of Rs. 30,000 of rent money, finding a place to go is tough.

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Devika’s father does many odd jobs to support the family and do not have any regular or reliable source of income. Devika’s mother passed away before the 26/11 attacks and she had delivered her final exams only a couple of days ago. Devika says that she and her father have nowhere to go next and will be forced to live on streets or in front of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s house.

Bombay High Court on August ordered its state government to offer an allotment of a house on compassionate grounds. Devika has also sought the HC to fund her education. After sending the necessary documents to the HC on October, the family has been waiting ever since.

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Utsav Bains, lawyer of Rotawan says that despite high court order, the government is yet to take any actions to help Rotawan and her family. And, it is sad to see someone who has been a key witness to nab one of the deadliest perpetrators, suffer much due to government’s negligence. He said he will move to high court once again in this matter.