A year after a series of devastating bomb blasts ripped through Mumbai's commuter rail network, people in Mumbai on Wednesday paid homage to the victims of the terror attack whose main conspirators are yet to be apprehended.
Police stepped up security across the city on the occasion as political parties and railway authorities organised separate events in memory of the 187 people who died in the blasts that occurred in seven first class coaches of local trains on the evening of July 11, 2006.
Another 812 people were injured in the bombings, the worst terror attack in Mumbai since the 1993 serial explosions.
"Extra security cover is being provided in light of the anniversary of the blasts," Maharashtra Police chief P S Pasricha told PTI.
Thirteen people, allegedly members of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayiba, have been arrested and charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act for the train bombings.
However, the main conspirators, many of whom are said to be in a neighbouring country, continue to be at large, police officials said.
The court conducting the trial of the case is expected to frame charges against the 13 accused on July 30.
Railway authorities are set to roll out one of the five coaches blown apart on July 11, 2006. Adorned with a small banner marking its significance, it will leave from Churchgate station at 6:24 pm, the time at which the first blast occurred.
Unhappy with the compensation provided by the Maharashtra government, many victims of the blasts have approached the State Human Rights Commission, which issued istructions to authorities that all dues should be paid by on Wednesday.
For someone like 22-year-old Krunal Kolge, who was injured in the blasts, life goes on as before.
"I was in the hospital for almost 20 days following which I was discharged. The day still brings back bad memories, but then I have to go on and continue to take the train to work," Kolge, an employee in a local hospital, said.
