The 2002 hit-and-run accident killed one and injured four other workers from the A1 Bakery, who were asleep on the pavement. Nurullah Sharif was killed, while Abdullah Shaikh, Muslim Shaikh, Munnu Khan and Mohammed Kalim were injured
The 2002 hit-and-run accident killed one and injured four other workers from the A1 Bakery, who were asleep on the pavement. Nurullah Sharif was killed, while Abdullah Shaikh, Muslim Shaikh, Munnu Khan and Mohammed Kalim were injured.
Francis Fernandes, an eyewitness was seen giving an interview at the spot on Hill Road, where Salman Khan’s Land Cruiser had claimed a life on that fateful September day in 2002. However, what caught our eye was a man lying on the pavement, seeming oblivious to the fact that this pavement was once home to several others like him, who slept one night and never woke up. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
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mid-day contacted Muslim Shaikh, and Munnu Khan, two of the victims who were injured on that fateful September morning in 2002, while sleeping on the pavement outside the American Express laundry. Even after 13 years, Muslim Shaikh still isn’t able to walk properly. He claims that he has received only Rs 1.75 lakh in 2007 as his compensation.
Speaking to mid-day Shaikh said, “Since the time of the incident I have settled in a small village in Uttar Pradesh as I cannot take care of the expenses of my family members, while existing on one leg. It had become difficult for me to survive in the city, so I opted to live in my native village.”
He added, “I don’t even remember what happened. I was asleep when the incident took place, and due to its impact, I was lodged under the car, unconscious. When I regained my consciousness I was in the Bhabha Hospital.”
‘Don’t know who was driving’
When asked whether he saw Salman Khan driving the car, he said, “When I was in hospital, everyone around me was saying that Salman Khan was driving the car. But, I seriously don’t know what had happened. Nobody has approached me from his side since that day.”
The doctors in UP claim that the steel rod in Muslim Shaikh’s left leg, which was joined after the incident has been damaged, and he does not have the money to get it fixed. “The doctors claim that the rod is damaged and needs to be changed, but I am not able to do so.”
Munnu Khan, another victim, who still works at A-1 Bakery in Mumbai, says he accepted the court decision. Because of the accident, Khan still faces problems in his right leg. He said, “Jo court faisala kiya wohi humara faisala hai (The court’s decision is my decision).”
‘Saw Salman driving’
When asked if he saw Salman driving the car, Khan replied in the affirmative. He said that he told the court the same thing that he saw on the night of the accident. He adds that he wouldn’t lie about such a thing, and punish himself in the process.
Regarding his injuries, Khan said that he was hospitalised on the day of incident, and was discharged after 24 hours. Later, he was going being treated by a private doctor. His right leg — which was injured during the accident — is still problematic, especially during the winter. The compensation that he received did not even cover his treatment. However, Khan says that he doesn’t expect any compensation from anyone.
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