No relief for witness blinded in firing

MUMBAI, March 16: A witness who was hit in the eye in the Ramabai Nagar firing told the Gundewar Commission on Monday that he did not receive a single paise from the state government. The commission is inquiring into the desecration of Dr Ambedkar’s bust and subsequent police firing on July 11, 1997.

Vithal Tambe, an employee at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, said during the cross-examination by counsel for the commission Vijay Pradhan that he was on his way to work as usual on July 11. When he reached the service road behind Budhha Vihar, he heard some cracker-like sounds and felt something enter his eyes. Soon blood was flowing out of his eyes and he could not see a thing. He was taken to Sion Hospital, where it was found that his left eye has been completely damaged and the right eye was partially damaged.

Tambe, the only earning member of his family, has been unable to resume work since. He said he had applied to the state government for compensation, but has received no money so far. TheSion hospital’s report will be presented to the commission in the next hearing.