Uphaar verdict: Too little that came too late

New Delhi, Nov 20: For them it was too little that came too late.

Soon after the verdict in the Uphaar fire tragedy case today, the tragedy stricken families voiced anguish and dismay over the judgement which they described as ''too little solace which came too late'' and vowed to continue their legal battle till justice was meted out to them.

Ms Neelam Krishnamurthy, who lost her two children in the inferno on June 13, 1997 during the screening of the then newly released film 'Border' in the hall, said, ''The section under which the Ansals have been convicted provide for the maximum punishment of two years which is just not enough. The duo should not be let off the hook so mildly.'' ''This is only a small reprieve and that too came after the ten-year-long legal battle. But we are not going to rest here and will take our battle up to the level of the apex court and we are very much sure that justice one day or another will be meted out to us,'' a determined Ms Krishnamurthy emphasised.

Mr D K Sehgal, whose 21-year-old son Vikas perished in the blaze, said, ''We are happy that the accused in the case have been held guilty. But I don't think the battle is over as the sections in which the Ansals have been held guilty would not be able to give them adequate punishment. The families of the victims will hold a meeting after sentencing tomorrow and then only we will decide our future course of action.'' ''The battle is long but we will not rest till all the convicts in the case get their due punishment because their negligence cost 59 lives which is no small mattter,'' he rued.

UNI