Haldiram murder case: Justice done at last, says tea stall owner
By IANSFriday, January 29, 2010
KOLKATA - “Justice can be delayed but cannot be denied”, said a relieved Pramod Sharma Thakur, the 26-year-old tea stall owner who escaped death narrowly five years ago when Haldiram confectionaries owner Prabhu Shankar Agarwal hired a contract killer to murder him.
Visibly happy after Agarwal and his four associates were given life sentence by a local court here, Sharma said, “I had left everything to the almighty and the law. God has been with poor people like us in this battle.”
Agarwal, who lords over a Rs.500-crore business empire, had two multi-storeyed Haldiram outlets at 7, and 9, Jagmohan Mullick Road, in the city’s business hub Burrabazar. The bhujia baron wanted to set up a multistoried food mall near the two outlets, but Pramod’s tea stall stood in the way as it was located at the entrance of the proposed swanky outlet.
“They tried to remove the stall forcefully but I was not willing to give up the tea stall. This tea stall was set up by my grandmother and our entire family has been earning its bread from it. It is like my mother. How can I sell my mother?” Pramod told IANS.
On Feb 12, 2005, goons hired by Agarwal ransacked and demolished the tea stall and when Pramod’s uncle Satyanarayan - who also earns his livelihood from it - tried to resist he was severely beaten up. A few days later, Satyanarayan was offered Rs.400,000 but he refused.
“I was offered rupees four lakh. I was asked to take the money and leave the place but I refused. Gopal Tiwari, a local criminal, threatened me with dire consequences.
Three days later, Gopal along with his associates arrived in front of the tea stall and started firing. Pramod was injured in the firing and had to be hospitalised,” said Satyanarayan, 65, who is elated at the court judgement.
“The bullet pierced my left leg. The doctors operated and took out the bullet. But I cannot run today and I feel pain after walking a few meters,” said Pramod.
“But the only satisfaction is that justice has been done after five years and the shop is running fine, though I am afraid that they might take revenge. But I am happy that I saved my shop,” said Pramod.
