Families' 19-year wait for justice continues

Disappointment, anger and frustration were hard to miss on Monday in the voices of those whose lives were torn apart by the explosions that ripped through local trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. Many still live with painful memories of the day they lost loved ones in the serial blasts. The Bombay high court's acquittal of all 12 accused on Monday left them wondering if justice was still achievable.

- Megha Sood and Mayura Janwalkar

Among the 188 people killed in the blasts was 23-year-old Harshal Bhalerao, who worked at a private company in Andheri. His parents had been sitting at home, named “7/11 Harshal Smriti” in his memory, with their eyes glued to the TV since Monday morning, hoping the death sentences of the accused would be upheld. They were in for disappointment.

“We waited for justice for 19 years,” said Yashwant Bhalerao, Harshal’s father, who was livid after hearing the verdict. He claimed that the police had hastily arrested the accused to somehow show that they had completed the investigation. Due to this, proper evidence was not found, and as a result, all the terrorists were acquitted, he lamented.

Harshal’s mother, Saguna, teared up. “I was praying that Harshal would not be in that train. His phone was not working...My son will not be returned, but the terrorists should have been punished,” she said.