Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112959271700.htm

National

Constable who took them on barehanded

Rahi Gaikwad

MUMBAI: When Nivrutti Baburao Gavahane, 57, a constable at the Colaba police station first heard of the firing outside Leopold Café, he decided to nab the attackers mid-way before they cleared out.

With no firearm of his own, he jumped into a police van along with another officer and rushed to the spot. As he steered his van around a turn, three bullets hit him in the thigh.

“The bullets penetrated the van. Two hit me on the belt of my uniform. I was saved by the belt,” he said. The belt with a mangled brass clasp lies beside him on his bed at JJ Hospital.

“In the injured state, I drove the van back to the police station after which I was taken to the hospital,” he said.

Ten-year-old Devika Natwarlalji Rotawar, in a steely voice that belied a fragile emotional state, said: “I was standing at VT [station] with my father. We had to go to Pune. My brother had gone to the toilet. I do not know what happened. There were sounds. We started calling out to my brother. Suddenly a bullet hit me in the right leg. There was a lot of blood. I was then taken to the ticket collectors’ office. From there I was taken to Sanjay hospital. I was brought to JJ Hospital. I was operated on, this [Friday] morning. The bone in my leg is broken. The doctor says I will get well in a week’s time.”

Devika’s father and brother are by her side. The father said: “I saw Devika fall to the ground. There was a lot of firing from all sides. I saw one terrorist run away. He was dressed in white. Then we brought Devika to the hospital.”