Twice unlucky: Mecca Masjid victim among injured

Twenty-five-year old, who lost a leg in the 2007 attack, suffered severe spine injuries in Wednesday’s blast that ripped through Hyderabad’s Dilsukh Nagar. Vicky Nanjappa reports 

Terror is back to haunt Abdul Wasif Mirza. He lost his leg in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast (which killed 17 people) and in Wednesday’s blast at Hyderabad’s Dilsukh Nagar he was among the 119 injured. (Sixteen people were killed.)

Thursday was like any regular day for the 25-year-old -- he was selling tee-shirts on the pavement near the bus stand in the busy market place when the bomb went off injuring his back.

And the memories of the 2007 nightmare came rushing back. After years of treatment, Abdul was picking up the pieces and moving on. But to his ill luck, he once again fell prey to terror.

Abdul has sustained severe injuries on his back. “The impact of the blast was bad. We found shrapnel in his back and it may have damaged his spine,”

said doctors treating him. 

Abdul’s father Shahid Mirza told rediff.com, “This is the worst thing that has happened. However, I have faith in God. He survived the earlier blast when we all thought that we had lost him. This time too I have hope that his life will return to normal.” 

Mirza was 20 when he lost his leg in the Mecca Masjid blast. He was a student then. But due to his injuries could not pursue his education. It took him six months to recover. Being the eldest among his siblings, he was left with little option but to sell clothes on the pavement to earn a humble living for his family, which resides in Hyderabad’s Kala Pathar locality.      

“We hope that he is able to get back on his feet. We are glad that he is alive and will continue to help him recover,” said his family.