Faceless victims lost in politics of UP blasts

ANOTHER ROUND OF TERROR: The UP govt says the Special Task Force of the UP Police will probe the blast.

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Keywords: Faizabad, Varanasi

Varanasi: It was at the Varanasi Sessions Court, sitting on a torn sack where Manoj earned his daily bread, polishing shoes. The same old piece of cloth became his deathbed on Friday as three blasts shook the court premises.

Life was cruel to this 12-year-old breadwinner of a family of four, death even more cruel. He had died on the spot, getting no second chance at life.

Manoj's Mother, "We were informed by Manoj's friend that a blast had occurred and that Manoj was dead. He told us to come to the court house immediately."

Meanwhile, housed in the same court complex is the office of District Magistrate and the SSP, the highest ranking officers of the district.

The blasts, and the relative ease with which it was pulled off, exposed the lack of security, if at all there was any.

The Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government, P K Misra, now says the Special Task Force of the UP Police will probe the blast.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and several other VIPs are scheduled to visit the blast site in the coming days. And in this melee, the faces of Manoj and eight others who died will soon be forgotten.

(With inputs from Atishay Abbhi)