‘Devika Rotawan was 9–year-old when she identified Kasab’ - Uddhav Thackeray urged to allot a house to girl

“The State Government’s promise of a flat is still unfulfilled," Devika Rotawan had mentioned last year.

Mumbai: Maharashtra MLA Zeeshan Siddique on Monday urged Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allot a house to Devika Rotawan, who was just nine years old when she identified Ajmal Kasab in court as the attacker who shot her during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, in Mumbai under special quota.

“Meet Devika Rotawan. This brave girl was 9 yrs old when she identified terrorist Kasab in court after 26/11 attacks,” tweeted Siddique.

The MLA added that he heard Bandra (East)-resident Rotawan’s inspiring story and saw her bullet wound. “Went to her house in Bandra East to give her a cheque when I found out about her financial struggle,” further tweeted Siddique.

He urged Uddhav Thackeray to allot a house in Mumbai for Devika Rotawan , now 20 years old, under special quota. “I will be writing a letter for the same! We must award her for the bravery she has shown. This will be a great token of appreciation from the #MahaVikasAghadi government!”

In 2019, Devika Rotawan had shared her experience on the Facebook page of Humans of Bombay.

"I was barely 10 years old when a bullet pierced my right leg. It happened at CST station. I was with my father and brother and we had stopped for a while to use the restroom. Before we knew it, chaos had erupted all around us. My instinct told me to run and that’s when I saw the man who shot straight at me. I felt so much pain… I collapsed.”

After spending 1.5 months in the hospital, she moved back to her village with her family. “My father was contacted by the police to testify in court. We had to identify the attacker since we were some of the only survivors. I wasn’t scared, I wanted him to be punished,” said Rotawan.

She walked to court in crutches and “out of the four men presented to me, I immediately recognised Ajmal Kasab”.

“The State Government’s promise of a flat is still unfulfilled. But we’re not giving up because we did what we had to for the country,” Rotawan had mentioned in the post.