Tea vendor8217;s deposition

MUMBAI, November 19: Devraj Punninadar, a tea and coffee vendor at Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Ghatkopar, saw two unidentified men at a distance of 20 feet from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar8217;s statue in the waking hours of July 11, 1997.

Devraj today deposed before the Justice S D Gundewar commission, which is inquiring into the desecration of Dr Ambedkar8217;s statue, subsequent violence and police firing which killed ten Dalits at Ghatkopar on July 11.

To queries by counsel for the commission Advocate Aruna Kamath, Devraj said: 8220;I have been selling coffee in Ramabai Nagar for ten years, and am acquainted with many locals. I usually sell coffee between 5 am and 7.30 am and 4 pm and 7.30 pm everyday near the statue. On July 11, I reached the statue at about 5.15 am. About three minutes later, two unidentified men came to me and asked for two half cups of coffee. One of them was tall while the other was of medium height. Some time after they left, one of my customers, Anil, after having coffee, noticed the statue was garlanded and started shouting. Immediately, about 10-15 people gathered around the statue. I was frightened and left the place. I was near the statue till about 6.20 am.8221;