The lone death rows convict Yakub Memon, in the 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blast, is executed today on July 30th. Nothing could have saved him to go on gallows. His family told media that he was seen stressed for the first time in these years. He never expected death sentence. Yakub knew, he had to take this fate because of his brother Tiger Memon. He wanted to open a school; in jail also he was educating people. With his help, five people in the jail could clear their SSC exams. Yakub has a written acknowledgement of this work. He wanted to work for India. His entire youth has been spent in jail and finally he had to face death keeping all his dreams aside. He concluded by saying that death is fixed for everyone and he will die when it’s fixed in his destiny.

Yakub Memon, the CBI says was arrested in New Delhi in 1994 but the family has always maintained that he came back with the intention of helping the authorities and that he was innocent. Yakub ran an accounting firm and stands accused of providing tickets to the accused to flee to Pakistan and Dubai. Memon’s wife, parents and three other brothers, Suleiman, Essa and Yusuf also returned. Both Essa and Yusuf are serving a life sentence while Suleiman was acquitted. Tiger Memon, Dawood Ibrahim, Javed Chikna, some of the principal accused, are all still absconding. The primary chargesheet in the case was filed in 1994 and in April 1995 the trial started. The prosecution presented more than 600 witnesses and it was in 2000 that the testimony of all of them was wrapped up. In September 2006 the court pronounced its judgement.

Yakub surrendered to the police as he was told by the then home minister that he will not be punished. The family was waiting since last 23 years and they did not expect a death sentence. Yakub gave them a lot of information on the blast. There should have been some sympathy from the government. At least, he would have been awarded life imprisonment if death could be avoided. Main culprits are still scot free and roaming across the globe.

Justice Kode announced death sentence to Yakub Memon for treachery. Kode himself told a journalist of rediff.com’s Sheela Bhatt that “Yakub didn’t plant bombs or RDX, nor did he take part in the landing of the weapons. Those who have been awarded the death penalty were involved in one of these deadly actions. The charges against Yakub don’t involve any of these crimes.” Inspite of knowing and advocating involvement of Yakub, what must have really provoked Justice Kode to announce death sentence to the person who is just a kind of victim. If justice is delivered in this manner then how one should expect justice from judicial system of this country.

Adding to my surprise, the man who prosecuted Yakub Memon, Ujjwal Nikam (who famously lied about Pakistani Ajmal Kasab demanding biryani) made these observations about Yakub Memon: “When he was first brought to court, I remember seeing him as quiet and reserved person. He is a chartered accountant so took detailed notes of the evidence. He was quiet and aloof, never mingled with the others and only spoke to his lawyer. An intelligent man, he closely monitored the entire trial.”

“I noticed the same things in my time in the court. Memon was silent and observant. There was only one time I noticed him showing emotion. It may have been in late 1995 or early 1996,” said JN Patel, who was at that time the trial judge, was giving bail to many of the accused in this period. There was some hope but not for the Memons. I remember Yakub shouting and acting violently (without hitting anyone). He said: “Tiger was right. We should not have come back.” I’m surprised that, why Ujjwal Nikam could not get success in putting other terrorists with same fate.

Senior Journalist Barkha Dutt, Aakar Patel and R Jagannathan of firstpost.com wrote fine arguments on why the state should not hang Yakub Memon. He argues that those scheduled to hang for two other crimes, the assassinations of Rajiv Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, have not yet been hanged. Three of Rajiv’s assassins — Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan — had their death sentences commuted after the Tamil Nadu assembly asked for mercy. SC upholds commutation of death to life sentence for Rajiv Gandhi killers. They should also be hanged by now. Beant’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajaona has proudly acknowledged his guilt and has in fact been demanding that he be hanged, but has been kept alive, perhaps also due to the efforts of the Punjab assembly.

Jagannathan writes: “What is apparent to all but the innocent eye is this: where a convicted killer or assassin or terrorist has strong political backing, neither the centre nor the courts seem to develop the spine to deliver justice impartially as intended. Now consider how the same centre, states and courts are keen to “uphold the law” when it comes to another category of killers: Ajmal Kasab, Afzal Guru, and, now, possibly, Yakub Memon. All Muslims and their only common link to the hangman’s noose seem to be that they lack political support.” Anyway, till today Muslim remained as a vote bank. BJP is in power majority votes and Hindutva agenda, minorities are feeling insecure in this country. Yakub’s death has given tremors to some.

At the last moment, everyone made noise to save his life but this time judiciary was not very kind to him. Even my intention is not to support crime or criminal, just a thought to save someone who is a victim of politics. Yakub died and his death leaves a series of question behind. Twenty two long years, 600 witnesses and 100 guilty sentences. Later on, one hanged but can government deport the main culprits, Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger to India? Can anyone ever be booked and punished for Babri demolition and post demolition riots in India, where thousands were killed? Whosoever are the rioters, propagators, masterminds and murderers, should be hanged or butchered mercilessly for killing innocents. Or there will be always a selective justice?