From today, till the trial ends maybe months ahead, access to roads around Arthur Road Jail will be restricted. Hemal Ashar reports on the consequences Mumbaikars have to suffer
From today, till the trial ends maybe months ahead, access to roads around Arthur Road Jail will be restricted. Hemal Ashar reports on the consequences Mumbaikars have to suffer
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Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab's trial has the locals up in arms. Jilani Motarwala, who owns a
opposite Arthur Road jail, where the trial is being held, said, "Why can't they close the road only during the court hours instead of the entire trial? Why are civilians paying the price for a culprit of the nation?"
Wine shop owner C K Patange echoes Motorwala's views. "Custom will definitely drop. Also, how will the goods be delivered to my shop? We pay a hefty licence fee of Rs 6 lakh per year. With business dropping, how will I pay the fee, he asked. Patange anticipates a 20 to 30 per cent drop in business during the trial.
Ramji, owner of a stationery shop, said, "A chunk of our business base came from bus commuters. Now, with buses barred from the road, that will diminish."u00a0
Fearing that the trial might stretch endlessly, Patange added, "Now, some human rights activists might intervene in the case, but what about our human rights? Our civic rights?"u00a0
Said Motorwala, "Qasab's bullets killed people at CST, his trial is going to kill us."
Residents fear military zone
Residents are filled with trepidation that the area will turn into a "military zone". Hemant Baria of Saibaba Seva Mandir Samiti, an 80-year-old residential enclave in the area, said, "We have been issued photo identifications. We were being stopped and questioned even before the trial. What will happen now?"
More dogs now?
Even BMC's Mahalaxmi dog catching squad will face some trouble. "We used to take the lane parallel to Mahalaxmi Bridge, but since renovation began on that street, we have been using the lane next to Kasturba Hospital. I don't know the option if Arthur Road is cordoned off. I hope they let our trucks through," said Dr Girish Ambe, joint executive health officer. The Mahalaxmi kennel services all of south Mumbai.
Entry to hospital
Kasturba Hospital Dean Dr Umesh Aigal is nonchalant. He said, "I don't think there will be any problem for ambulances, doctors and patients. In case we are told to close the front gate (which faces the jail), we can use the back gate."
No entry for school buses?
The St Ignatius High School is closed for summer vacation at the moment, but school manager Father Joe D'Souza said, "The children will be back on June 11. I am worried about what will happen then. I do not know if our school buses will be allowed in. It is a wait-watch-and-worry situation."
Church: Mass destruction
Father D'Souza is also concerned about how citizens will make it to the school's church for mass every Sunday. But resigned to the inconvenience, he said, "This time we were not allowed to hold Easter Mass in Arthur Road jail for prisoners for security reasons. I guess, Qasab's security is more important than the happiness of 111 prisoners."u00a0
Locals file PIL
A clutch of local establishments and residents filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court on Monday, asking why the roads should be made one-way during the entire trial.
The PIL draws attention to the problems faced by them during the 1993 bomb blasts trial, which finally concluded in 2007. Pointing out that they suffered great losses, mental torture, fears and other embarrassments in the name of security during that trial, the litigants add that even that trial wasn't as bad as Qasab's promises to be.
For the 1993 blasts trial only one road between Arthur Road Jail and J R Boricha Marg was restricted during the hours of the trial. There was no ban on the entire road connecting to Saat Rasta on one side and Chinchpokali Junction on the other.
>>> Md Qasab and Abu Ismail killed three of Mumbai's top cops: Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar.
Rasta roko
No parking*Sane Guruji Marg: Parking of vehicles prohibited for 24 hrs on both sides of the Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk (Saat Rasta Circle/Jacob Circle) to Chinchpokli Junction (Arthur Rd Naka)
NM Joshi Marg: Parking prohibited for 24 hrs on both sides of the Chinchpokali junction to Ghodake Chowk and B J Road Junction
Keshavrao Khadye Marg: Parking prohibited for 24 hrs on both sides of the Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk (Saat Rasta Circle/Jacob Circle) to 'S' Bridge Junction.
No entry zones*
Sane Guruji Marg:u00a0 No entry for 24 hrs on the southbound side of the Arthur Road Naka up to Saat Rasta Circle/Jacob Circle. Vehicular traffic from the northbound Saat Rasta Circle/Jacob Circle allowed to go towards Chinchpokli junction (Arthur Road u00a0Naka).
J R Boricha Marg: No entry for 24 hrs on both sides of Sane Guruji Marg and Kasturba hospital junction up to Gangaram Babu Sakpal Marg Junction.
Keshavrao Khadye Marg: No entry for motor vehicles for 24 hrs on the side of the Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk (Saat Rasta Circle/Jacob Circle) up to 'S' Bridge Junction N M Joshi Marg
* As per the traffic department directives
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