Bruises Are Still Alive

Laxman Hundekari (age27), resident of Degaon village in Solapur, wanted to join the police force; but the ominous night turned all his dreams bite the dust. We interviewed Laxman to know what he feels about the attack after two years and we found the bruises still fresh.  He said, "I am not physically fit now to join the police force. I could let go the crutches after undergoing three surgeries, but I cannot exert myself anymore. I am now looking for a sedentary job."

He doesn't understand if he should consider himself lucky to survive the trauma or otherwise. Laxman who had gone to Mumbai as a candidate for police recruitment examination, was present at the CST station when appalling terrorist attack froze Mumbai's blood on November 26, 2008.

He had cleared the physical fitness exam and was called for the written exam in Thane police headquarters.

"I was injured in the grenade blast. The metal splinters entered my left leg below the knee and I was in a semi-conscious state when the railway police took me to the J J Hospital. I had to stay there for a month,” says Laxman.

Laxman said,”But, after reaching the exam venue, I was told that the exam had been postponed. So, I came back to CST around 9 pm to catch a train to Solapur, which was scheduled to leave at 10:45 pm. I bought the ticket and was sitting on a bench when suddenly, after hearing blast-like sounds, people started running helter-skelter. Within minutes, all hell broke loose and there was a major stampede inside the CST station. I, too, tried to escape, but was paralyzed by the grenade’s splinters, which hit the lower part of m [...]