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Time of India
31-07-2025
- Time of India
Time stands still at Bhikku Chowk as locals remember blast
Malegaon: Time stands still at Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, as seen from the wall clock at Nissar Dairy that stopped ticking at 9:35pm when a bomb blast at the chowk rocked the textile town of north Maharashtra on Sept 29, 2008. The clock still hangs in the dairy, owned by Ijaj Ahmad, as a grim reminder of the blast that claimed six lives and left nearly 100 others injured. The chowk, a crowded place at all times, is a destination for everyone wanting to catch up over a cup of tea, snacks, and paan. Some shops still bear the splinter marks from the blast, and locals have not forgotten the night of 17 years ago. Shopkeepers in the bustling Bhikku Chowk said the intensity of the blast was such that the metal shutters of the shops were cut through. A cycle repair shop owner, Mohammad Sayyed, recalled that the motorcycle in which the prosecution claimed the bomb was planted, was parked just outside his shop. Since it was the month of Ramadan, he had gone to a masjid close by to offer namaz and was saved. "The blast occurred just a few minutes before people left the masjid. If it had exploded 10 minutes later, the disaster would have been huge," he added. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai A large number of people make it a point to come to this chowk to have tea from early morning till late at night, said Shaikh Hamid Shaikh Chand (63), a pan stall owner. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "A boy named Jamil, who used to work with me, suffered serious injuries," he recalled. The chowk has remained much the same in the past 17 years, but the road from Bhikku Chowk to Anjuman Chowk has been named Shaheed Hemant Karkare Road. Late IPS officer Hemant Karkare was heading the state anti-terrorism squad in 2008 when the blast took place and closely oversaw the probe. On Thursday, several Malegaon residents gathered at Bhikku Chowk, hoping for a conviction in the case. They said Karkare conducted a thorough probe. "His efforts have been in vain," said Sikandar Ali, a powerloom worker. Several Malegaon residents said they felt distraught by the court verdict. Maulana Abdul Qayyum, district president of Jamiat-e-Ulma, said, "If the govt felt the accused are innocent, then why did it not trace the people involved in the blast? We have full trust in the judiciary, and we will go to the higher court for justice."
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Time of India
Time stands still at Bhikku Chowk as Malegaon remembers 2008 blast
1 2 3 4 5 6 Malegaon: Time stands still at Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, as evident from the wall clock at Nissar Dairy that stopped ticking at 9.45pm when a bomb blast rocked the textile town of north Maharashtra on Sept 29, 2008. The clock still hangs in the dairy, owned by Ijaj Ahmad, serving as a grim reminder of the blast that claimed the lives of six people and left nearly 100 others injured. Bhikku Chowk, a crowded destination for those seeking tea, snacks, and paan, remains marked by the remnants of the explosion. Some shops still bear splinter marks from the blast, and local residents have not forgotten the night of the attack 17 years ago. Shopkeepers in the bustling chowk said the intensity of the blast was such that the metal shutters of the shops were cut through. Mohammad Sayyed, a cycle repair shop owner, recalled the motorcycle, in which the prosecution claimed the bomb was planted, was parked just outside his shop. He was at a nearby masjid offering namaz during Ramzan and was spared from the blast. "The blast occurred just a few minutes before people left the masjid. If it exploded 10 minutes later, the disaster would have been huge," he added. Shaikh Hamid Shaikh Chand, a 63-year-old paan stall owner, said a large number of people frequent the chowk from early morning until late at night. "Somehow, I was saved from the blast. But the sound of the blast rang in my ears for nearly a week. A boy named Jamil, who used to work with me, suffered serious injuries," he recalled. The chowk has remained largely unchanged in the past 17 years, but the road from Bhikku Chowk to Anjuman Chowk has been named Shaheed Hemant Karkare Road. Late IPS officer Hemant Karkare was heading the state anti-terrorism squad in 2008 when the blast occurred and closely oversaw the investigation. On Thursday, many Malegaon residents gathered at Bhikku Chowk, hoping for a conviction in the case. They believed that Karkare conducted a thorough investigation. "His efforts have been in vain. Despite all the evidence against the accused, they have been released. This is no justice," said Sikandar Ali, a powerloom worker. A police chowkey, located just a few metres from the site of the blast, remains in place. Local residents said the police vigil has generally increased. Several Malegaon residents, particularly from the Muslim community, felt distraught by the court verdict. Maulana Abdul Qayyum, district pof Jamiat-e-Ulma, said, "If govt felt that the accused are innocent, then why did it not trace the people who were involved in the blast? We have full trust in the judiciary, and we will go to the higher court for justice. We are confident that the deceased and injured people and their families will surely get justice." The communally sensitive town is divided along the Mausam river saw some celebrations in some parts. Members of a Hindu organisation gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi statue to celebrate the court, and they shouted slogans in the name of former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, who was among the accused.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Time of India
Will seek justice right up to top court, says 75-year-old Nisar Ahmed, who opposed Pragya Thakur's discharge from Malegaon blast case
Malegaon: , a 75-year-old resident of Islampura, whose 19-year-old son, Sayyad Azhar, was killed in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast, said on Thursday that he will seek justice up to the Supreme Court. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ahmed, who had filed an intervention plea opposing Pragya Singh Thakur's discharge from the case, intends to file an appeal against the special NIA court's verdict, which acquitted all seven accused in the case. Ahmed, who has been struggling with a hearing problem and deteriorating health, summed up his reaction in one word: "Dejected During the trial, Ahmed filed an intervention plea through Jamiat-e-Ulma, which has been assisting blast victims in their legal battles, to challenge the dropping of charges against Pragya Singh Thakur. Ultimately, she was not discharged and faced trial. Since the early 2000s, Ahmed had been running a tyre supply business from his shop near the bridge on the Mausam river in Malegaon. He ceased operations a few years after Azhar, his second child, died in the blast. He still has a copy of a newspaper dated Sept 30, 2008, which reported the blast, listing the names of the deceased and injured. These days, Ahmed rarely leaves his house. However, on Thursday, he visited Malegaon town. "We will pursue the case in the higher courts till we get justice for Azhar," he said. "Azhar was only 19 when he died. Eyewitnesses told us that he was leaning on the same bike that exploded. He collapsed on the ground with serious injuries and, worse still, in the chaos after the blast, he got further injured," Ahmed said. Ahmed's wife, Mehjabeen, recalled that Azhar had bought a new set of clothes on the day of the blast and had asked her to keep them ready for Eid, which was to be celebrated the following day. "When he was leaving the house that day, he had said that he was not feeling well. I wish he had not gone out," she said. Irfaana Hamdani, a lawyer from Jamiat-e-Ulma, said, "The acquittal of the seven accused in the is unacceptable. We do not agree with this verdict, for which we waited for 17 years. We will move the higher courts for justice."
