Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Nov 18: “I have suffered for 100 days, including 80 days in the ICU of hospital. Even now I take three tablets every day. I am not able to drive my auto-rickshaw. I cannot lift even five kilos of weight. I am unable to do service of Koragajja, which I was doing for 46 long years. The compensation promised by the government has also not reached me,” said auto-rickshaw driver Purushotham Poojary, who was seriously injured in the cooker bomb blast that occurred on November 19, 2022 at Nagori in the city.
Purushotham further says, “I am 61 now. I want to drive my auto-rickshaw. However, I unable to do so due to lack of strength. I began serving Koragajja deity when I was 15 and continued everyday till the day of the blast. But right now, I am not able to do it. I am not able to hold the plate for the pooja. But I go to Koragajja Kshetra every day. I get things done by others. I need at least another year to completely recover.”
Purushotham got medical treatment through ESI facility of his daughter. The government has only assured compensation but not yet given anything. MLA Vedavyas Kamath provided a new auto-rickshaw as the old one was completely damaged in the blast. Purushotham gets some income through the vehicle as he has given it on rent for others to drive. MLA Vedavyas Kamath also gave Rs three lac as financial help. Gurubeladingalu Foundation has got his house renovated. Purushotham has to shell out money for his medicines. His daughter’s marriage was fixed before the tragic incident. He got his daughter married after getting discharged from the hospital.
Purushotham said, “I came to know that he (accused Mohammed Shariq) planned to bomb Kadri temple. When I went for inquiry recently with the NIA, I saw Shariq. His health is still not okay. I survived because of the grace of Koragajja. God only has punished Shariq.”
It may be recalled, on November 19, 2022, Shariq prepared a cooker bomb at his rented house in Mysuru and came to Mangaluru by train and boarded the auto-rickshaw of Purushotham to be dropped at Pumpwell. However, the bomb got exploded when the auto-rickshaw reached Nagori.