Meet Devika Rotawan, The Girl Who Identified 26/11 Mumbai Attackers

Fifteen years after the harrowing events of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the city still bears the scars of that unforgettable night. Devika Rotawan, at the tender age of nine, was the youngest survivor of the November 2008 terror attacks. Shot in the leg, she not only survived the ordeal but later stood in court to identify the lone terrorist, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab. Now, at 25, Devika reflects on the profound changes in her life as she navigates the aftermath of that fateful night.

Speaking to Press Trust of India on the eve of the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, Devika said she would never forget that night.

"It's been 16 years, but I can still remember what I was doing, where I was going, and how the attack happened," she said.

Surviving the Nightmare: 

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The siege, lasting 60 agonising hours, left scars on the soul of India's financial and entertainment capital, claiming 166 lives. At just nine years old, a month shy of her 10th birthday, Devika was shot in the leg by Qasab at the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, who later emerged as the youngest witness in the trial. Her resilience echoed as she calmly identified the terrorist in a packed courtroom, earning her the title of the "girl who identified Qasab."

In May 2010, justice prevailed as Qasab faced the death penalty and, two years later, was hanged in a maximum-security prison in Pune. 

When Mumbai Crime Branch contacted her family, asking if she would be willing to testify in court, the family promptly agreed.

"We agreed because both my father and I had seen the terrorists, and I could identify Ajmal Kasab, the man who caused so much pain. I wanted to kill him, but I was just nine. I could do nothing but identify him in court," Devika recalled.

Transformation Amidst Struggles:

Devika graduated with Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Chetna College in Bandra, residing in a modest apartment with her father. She is currently looking for a job to support her family.  While the scars on her leg occasionally remind her of that dreadful night, Devika is resolute in her pursuit of a dream – to become an IPS officer and end terrorism.

Devika's life, thrust into the national spotlight, was far from ordinary. Having lost her mother in 2006 and with her father's dry fruit business crumbling post-attack, she faced both physical and emotional hardships. Six surgeries by the age of 11, a bout of tuberculosis in 2014, her schoolmates even labelled societal ostracisation marked her "Kasab ki beti," adding a layer of pain to her already challenging existence. Yet, amid the hardships, she fights for normalcy, battling legal battles for a promised home and steering her family toward stability.

Embracing her identity as the "girl who identified Qasab," Devika remains unfazed by the media's constant seeking of quotes during India-Pakistan tensions. Her advice, as shared with BBC's Soutik Biswas, resonates with determination: "Whatever you do in your life, make sure at the end of the day you are happy."