Bhopal: More than 25 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, a local court will give its verdict today against Union Carbide and other respondents.
On the night between December 2 and 3, 1984, the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal released lethal methyl isocyanate. While thousands died, many others passed on the harmful effects of the gas to the next generations.
There are those who have waited 25 years for justice and hope that the verdict will punish those responsible for scarring Bhopal and its people for ever. Others believe it's a classic case of too little too late.
Three years after the gas leak, the CBI had filed a chargesheet against 12 accused, including Warren Anderson, the former chairman of Union Carbide Corporation, US. He was arrested, but later released on bail. Anderson has since been absconding.
The second accused in the case is Keshub Mahindra, former Chairman of Union Carbide India Ltd. He's now the chairman of automobile giant Mahindra and Mahindra.
The accused were originally to be tried for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years. But they later moved Supreme Court, which diluted the charge to causing death by negligence, which carries a maximum imprisonment of two years.
"We hope we will get justice. But the sections the accused are charged with only sentences them to a maximum of two years. Where is the justice then," asks a gas victim.
"Whether it is the state or central government, we want them to give us justice. We will campaign against the company and Warren Anderson," says another.