‘Would you like to be linked to Kasab?’

The fake identity of captured terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab is causing immense pain, fear and embarrassment to a middle class Bangalore family, reports BR Srikanth.

The fake identity of captured terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab is causing immense pain, fear and embarrassment to a middle class Bangalore family.

HT Image

Reason: a piece of land owned by Usha — she did not want to reveal her surname — (No. 254 Teachers’ Colony, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore) figures as the address in Kasab’s fake student ID card.

The fake ID card is in the name of Sameer Chaudhary, purportedly a student of Arunodaya College, which is located in the same area. The college management has clarified it has no student by that name on its rolls.

“We are scared. Would you like your name linked to terrorism and a terrorist like Kasab?” asks Usha, holding back tears as her family struggles to cope with the unwanted public gaze.

Usha’s father Shivaramaiah, a litterateur in Kannada and retired principal of Government College, and his wife Lakshmamma, too, have turned “allergic” to excessive attention over the last 48 hours.

The invasion into their privacy started late on Tuesday night when strangers came knocking on their door (they stay in plot No. 256). This was followed by swarms of journalists, who began to badger them for quotes. “I cannot handle it anymore. My wife and I are leaving town to visit our village in Tumkur district,” said Shivaramaiah.

Meanwhile, Usha, who is married and works for a private sector company, has taken leave to be with her parents. “They cannot handle strangers, neighbours and journalists who are turning up to enquire about this boy (Kasab),” she told HT, adding that her family is scared, irritated and distressed at this unnecessary invasion into their privacy.