Mumbai: 

Now 25, Devika was only 10 years old when terrorists opened fire at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station in November 2008. She was shot in the leg but survived the brutal attack. Her brave testimony in court later helped convict Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker who was captured alive.

Devika Rotawan, who became the youngest survivor and an important witness in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, has finally been given a home by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), reported Times of India. This marks the end of a five-year-long legal struggle to secure a permanent roof over her head.

‘More than just home,’ Devika plans to shift soon

Earlier this year, her long wait finally ended when she was handed the keys to a flat in Andheri, a suburban part of Mumbai. Some finishing work, such as electrical fittings and ceiling fans, is still pending, but she is preparing to move in soon.

For Devika, this flat is more than just a home, it symbolises justice, dignity, and recognition of her courage. After years of struggle, she now has a space she can truly call her own.

We shifted from one rented house to another: Devika

Life after the tragedy was not easy for Devika and her family. They had no stable place to live and were often turned away by landlords unwilling to rent to them, fearing unwanted attention linked to the high-profile case. For years, they shifted from one rented house to another, living in constant uncertainty.

In 2020, while studying at Chetna College in Bandra, Devika approached the Bombay High Court, asking for help from the government to secure housing under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) scheme. Her request was taken up in court, and the state was directed to consider her application. The court also recommended that support be provided for her higher education.

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