26/11 in mind, city tones down Eid celebrations

“Eid is usually a time of happiness for us but there’s only sadness all around us in our house,” said Ziauddin Khan whose eldest brother Sahabuddin Khan was killed outside Café Leopold when it was attacked. “We have decided not to give any sacrifice this year,” added Ziauddin. “My sister-in-law and her younger children are in our native place right now, no one there is celebrating Eid either. We are just wondering how we are going to go on with our lives,” said Ziauddin.

“We didn’t know how to react when we realised we would be spending Eid with two relatives dead and four injured. In fact I am just outside the hospital where my mother is admitted,” said Zameer Haji Ismail Dalal on the telephone from Solapur. “By God’s grace my other relatives who were injured are fine now. We are in no mood to celebrate however we may offer the sacrifice tomorrow. But there will be no celebration,” he added.

At the home of one Muhammad Anis Peer Muhammad in Bhendi Bazaar there is an atmosphere of silent mourning. Muhammad’s brother-in-law, Mastan Qureshi was killed at CST during the terror strike. “We are not going to offer sacrifice this year. How can we in this atmosphere. My sister and her children are still inconsolable and there is a black and mournful atmosphere at home,” he said. Atleast 33 Muslims were killed in the attacks that rocked the nation last month.