'SC's Yakub verdict right, but what about 1992-23 riots?'

MUMBAI: Shops at Null Bazaar, Bohri Mohalla, Dongri and parts of Dharavi and Kurla downed shutters as news spread about the execution of Yakub Memon, convicted for his role in the 1993 serial blasts, which left 257 people dead. On Mahim’s Cadell Road, where Memon once resided, people skipped work, while in Bandra’s Behrampada, shopkeepers said locals forced them to shut shop till the cremation was over.
“These areas were closed to send out a message that law and order should apply to everyone, not just the minority community” said Mozzam Qureshi, who owns a shop in Bori Mohalla. “The Supreme Court judgment in the Memon case is correct, but there are cases pending regarding the 1992-93 riots, whose dates are constantly postponed, and this causes a lot of suffering.”
Many Mumbaikars, however, supported the verdict without reservations. “It is completely right,” said H R College student Ansh Hirawat (17). “This trial has been going on for 22 years… The verdict has come late but better late than never.” Accountant and Vasai resident Shridatta Raut displayed similar faith in the judiciary. “For 22 years, lawyers have compiled thousands of papers and examined hundreds of witnesses,” said Raut. “People wanted to stop the execution out of humanity, but India has laws that must be followed. Those who want to set aside the verdict were not affected. Their family members were not killed or injured,” Raut said.
WhatsApp groups buzzed with messages questioning if the Indian government had reneged on a secret deal with Memon. Supporters asked why he would willingly surrender to the police in Kathmandu if he was not at least partly innocent — the police dispute this claim — while others questioned if it would dissuade future informants from divulging critical information in exchange for a lighter sentence. “If true, the state reneging is a dangerous precedent and unjust to the convict,” wrote 27-year-old Huzefa, who asked that his last name not be used.
Suhail Khandwani, who is on the board of the Mahim and Haji Ali dargahs, said most Muslims were resigned to the verdict and many worked through the day to keep the peace. “Everything was coordinated very well by the police and our dargah trust volunteers assisted them,” said Khandwani. “There were also volunteers from every house. Even Memon’s family members were calm and said that peace should be maintained,” he added.
For Qureshi, the fact that the Supreme Court convened a historic emergency hearing at 2am to decide Memon’s final petition reinforced the fact that the convict had been given every opportunity to plead his case.
But perpetrators of the Babri Masjid demolition and Bombay riots going scot-free remained a bone of contention for both communities. “The Babri Masjid demolition was the key trigger, but we are not going after those culprits,” said environmental activist Rishi Aggarwal.
“My problem is not the hanging, but the double standards. Why should not we be going after perpetrators of the riots if we are so serious about justice?” Aggarwal said.