"India Must Not Remain Silent...": 26/11 Survivor Comes Out in Support of Operation Sindoor, Urges Unity in Face of Terror

Devika Rotawan was just nine years old when a bullet tore through her right leg during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Sixteen years later, the memories of that night still haunt her. But now, as India reels from the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam and launches Operation Sindoor in retaliation, Devika’s voice carries a powerful message — one of resilience, unity, and an unflinching stand against terrorism.

“I remember my father and brother had gone to the washroom just as the firing began at CSMT,” she recounted, referring to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, one of the prime targets of the 2008 attacks. “We dropped to the ground in panic, and amidst the chaos, a bullet struck my leg. I didn’t understand what was happening. My father tried to protect me from the truth, but I was quickly rushed to the hospital.”

Devika is the youngest and only eyewitness to have seen Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from that night, in action. “I later saw Kasab on television after he was captured,” she said. “I told my father that I had seen him with my own eyes. Soon after, the police came to take my statement, and I told them everything I had witnessed.”

Her journey since then has not been easy. “I received threatening calls from unknown numbers—some tried to scare me, others offered money to change my story,” she revealed. “But I never gave in. This was my fight—for myself and for everyone who has suffered because of terrorism.”

Now 26, Devika says the recent terror attack in Pahalgam has reopened old wounds. “It’s heartbreaking to see history repeat itself. Sixteen years later, terrorism still claims innocent lives. I feel the pain of the families who’ve lost loved ones—especially when victims are targeted because of their religion. I’ve lived that trauma. I know what it feels like.”

She urged eyewitnesses of the Pahalgam attack to speak up, despite the risks. “Being an eyewitness in a terror case is not easy. It takes courage, strength, and a lot of determination. But your voice matters. Every detail matters.”

Devika also voiced strong support for Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam strike. “This operation sends a clear message to Pakistan and its proxies—that India will not sit silently. The cost of provocation must be felt. We, the victims, carry the pain every single day because of these cowardly acts.”

Haunted by her own past, Devika says there is no escaping the memories. “Not a single day goes by without reliving that night. It comes back in my dreams. That kind of trauma never leaves you. That’s why I know exactly what the Pahalgam families are going through.”

Yet, in the face of fear and hatred, she offers a call for unity. “After every terror attack, people start blaming a religion. But I want to make this very clear—terrorism has no religion. We must stand together, not tear each other apart." Her message to the nation is simple: “Stay vigilant. Support each other. And never let fear defeat justice.”​