Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com reporting from Mahim says there are thousands upon thousands of people on the streets. Yakub Memon's Janaaze ke Namaz, (prayers before a funeral), is being carried out now at the Mahim dargah.


Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria is stationed in Mahim as we write this report. This is Maria's second visit in Mahim today after he oversaw arrangements in the morning and spoke to his men, stationed in their hundreds, around the Memon residences -- the Bismillah and Al Hussaini buildings near the Mahim dargah.


Farooq Ansari (name changed) said he had taken a holiday today because he wanted to see Yakub Memon. "It's sad that he is no more. Yakub was innocent and they made him a scapegoat," said Ansari, who was in his a child when the 1993 Mumbai blasts occurred.


Yakub's body is still at the Bismillah building where his brother lives, but only family and friends are allowed a last glimpse.


Another resident, Aslam Sheikh (name changed, nobody is willing to reveal their identity) said he knew the Memon family. "Yakub's father was a gentleman, but I did not know Yakub personally. I'm shocked to see so many people turn up to say their farewells. I'm sure there will be even more people at the funeral at the Bada Kabaristan."


There is complete calm in Mahim despite the thousands who have come hoping for a glimpse of the man they consider a 'messiah'. The calm is not broken even by a single slogan hailing Yakub. In face, community leaders, informally patrolling the streets urge people over and over again not to raise slogans.


Shahid Quereshi confessed that nobody in the neighbourhood expected Yakub to hang. "We thought that his mercy petition would be accepted. The government wanted to prove a point and so he was executed.

"It's sad that his daughter [Jubeda] has only seen her father in jail. She was just five-days-old when she came back with Yakub to surrender and for 21 years that's all she has seen of him. The government should have allowed him to live."

From here, the body will be taken to the Bada Kabaristan in Marine Lines which has been closed to the public.


Picture: The Mahim dargah where prayers are being said for Yakub Memon. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com.