‘This world is not for good people’

Azmi’s mother, who was visibly shaken said: “Kya pata kaun dushman the? Ache logon ka kaam nahi hai yahan par. Bure logo se to police bhi darti hai.” [Who knows who his enemies were? The world is not for good people. Even the police are scared of bad people.]

“Shaheed ka janaza hai, shan se jayega” [It’s a martyr’s funeral, it will go with pride] shouted the crowd that assembled for the funeral procession of slain lawyer Shahid Azmi.

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Azmi was gunned down by three unknown assailants at his office at Kurla on Thursday. Hundreds of people gathered at Azmi’s residence after his body was brought from JJ hospital, after post mortem.

People queued to get a last glimpse of him and many wore black bands. Police were deployed around Azmi’s house to ensure the situation was under control.

Around 2 pm, Azmi’s body was kept in the compound for people to offer namaz. The body was then taken to Quraishnagar Kabarrastan a crematorium, with prayers being chanted.

Noted lawyers Prakash Shetty, Shariff Sheikh and Sushan Kunjuraman, who were close to Azmi, joined the procession.

Azmi’s uncle and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Abu Asim Azmi, also part of the procession said: “Assailants of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and Nathuram Godse, (who killed Mahatma Gandhi) were defended. Then what was wrong with Shahid defending any accused?”

One of Azmi’s brothers, who requested that his name not be published, said: “Shahid always told me that he would die an accidental death.”

He added that Shahid never discussed work at home. “We don’t want revenge but we will do everything within the legal framework to ensure justice for Shahid,” his brother said.