Uphaar Tragedy | 'Kept Promise Made to My Kids': Neelam Krishnamoorthy on Ansals' Sentencing

"As a mother, I have kept the promise that I had made to my children 24 years ago. This verdict has restored my faith in the judicial system. I'm at peace because I know my children are at peace. Justice has been done," said Neelam Krishnamoorthy, who lost both her children in the fire at Delhi's Uphaar cinema in June 1997, after a Delhi court sentenced the Ansal brothers, Sushil and Gopal to 7 years in jail, for tampering of evidence in the Uphaar fire case.
#UphaarFire #UphaarTragedy #NeelamKrishnamoorthy #AnsalBrothers
Video: The Quint
Music: BMG
Support The Quint's independent journalism. Become a member now: bit.ly/2KzaT9R
__________________
Sundarbans Campaign: bit.ly/3mrdjLW
GNI Fact Check: bit.ly/2WlHg5b
Check out The Quint for more news: www.thequint.com
The Quint in Hindi: hindi.thequint...
For more videos, subscribe to our KZbin channel: bit.ly/2aIcith
You can also follow The Quint here:
Facebook: bit.ly/1RXYIg5
Twitter: bit.ly/1tjFuxI
Instagram: bit.ly/1Piyc18

[@amay9870]

"Just because my children are not there anymore I haven't stopped being a mother" Powerful statement...

[@samrat447]

Exactly...I got goosebumps when she said that.

[@trupti.marolia]

Just finished watching the show and my heart is shattered for this woman and her husband. I cannot imagine the patience and perseverance they had to endure! May all the victims rest in peace and may all their loved ones live in peace.

[@shariqaan]

24 years is too long ....... facing the same demons without giving up and winning is commendable. May Justice be served at the earliest to everyone seeking it.

[@nitinsood4]

Indeed

[@senguptasayn]

She is such an inspiration. Courage and perseverance personified. Can't even imagine what a struggle it must've been.

[@akurisreeram]

This sort of tragedy should not happen even to our enemies. May God give u the strength to lead the Life without your children.

[@ElevenJiKiFan]

24 years ...they have lived their life . My god..our country judicial really needs to be more than this.

[@ayushimishra1912]

You are right

[@nitinsood4]

Indeed . Justice delayed is also injustice

[@priyankasinha948]

I remember the day it happened. The movie was Border. We discussed this in our school. It was heartbreaking to read in the papers that the dead bodies were looted. The lady deserves so much respect for her grit and determination in pursuing this case and emerging victorious.

[@smitabehera3007]

Such a strong woman and mother. Her kids must be very happy and proud of her wherever they are.

[@ayushimishra1912]

True

[@Kmp-hj2xm]

Mem u r great mother. Lots of respect nd love

[@anilmishra4082]

Hats off Neelam.Mother never fails.

[@TheOpposition]

I lost my mother 2 years back to the sudden COVID lockdown announcement and lack of medical facilities. but looking at you I feel I'm looking at my mother. 🙏 May God give you all the strength

[@singhy4124]

Jst finished the series, what a brave lady and avut group is. Take a bow.

[@reeko9278]

Just watched the show... Heart breaks out... Inspiring to watch people fight for others and a better future for other children!

[@atiyafirdous2744]

I still remember my whole family was going to see movie border on same day same show, but at last moment our car Tyre got flat and we missed that showtime.

[@georgecarlinn6288]

I hope you did not sell the lucky car

[@yashaswidalal119]

That's so Relieving

[@syednaseer7734]

I came to see this news after seeing the trial by fire series. Poor people gets defeat always by Power and money.😡

[@HN-gj2iq]

Hats off to you and heartbroken for your loss. Around the same years I remember being locked inside balcony of a different cinema. I believe you have saved and affected many lives by this fight. So Thankyou.

[@ht5389]

Salute Ms. Neelam's fight for justice for her children and others.

[@identicaltwin274]

It's still shame that justice was served after 24 years

[@villainuday5365]

Doesn't really feel like justice if it is delivered after 24 years. Although it is heartwarming to see her at peace. All the victims deserved justice , of course justice on time. Fact is that the rich n powerful, celebs n politicians, business people n goons are indeed above the law and they make the law in our nation and get special treatment even if caught(and only for a while). The state of affairs is disturbing indeed.

[@z-j-nv4ys]

they got out after six months

[@manojramesh4598]

This is late humanity but peace prevails for the innocent 😇.......rip to those children 🙏❤️🇮🇳

[@lredhulk340]

She was able to afford this coz she's from affluent family. Poor people gets no justice in this country.. and no one wants to fight on their behalf and if someone does the govt has many ways to subdue the case. Example are salman khan case, delhi riots, Hathras rape case, and the recent one is lakhimpur kheri case where govt is deliberately trying to divert the case.

[@yathika3552]

This fight is not only about money....24 year isn't a short time period....its 24 YEARS dude

[@athensmajnoo3661]

@@yathika3552 it is about money too, for people who dont have it in plenty. My mom's share of her ancestral home, where she lived and took care of her parents for 40 years was cheated out of her hands by her own greedy brother. My mom was rendered homeless at the age of 70:, because her own brother drove her out after getting the house to his name by forging, and bribing. She had no sons, thus had to live with us 3 daughter's along with our in laws , in her twilight years. She fell sick, was bed ridden for 6 years, and died heatr broken. All this because neither she or we daughters had enough money to fight a legal case.

[@lredhulk340]

@@athensmajnoo3661 sorry to hear that 🙏 god bless her soul

[@lredhulk340]

@@yathika3552 you are presenting it like some kind of benchmark or world record but sister a poor can't afford that many years too. A poor hardly lives 45-50 year on average thanks to indian healthcare system 🤣 and giving 24 years of his life just to get justice is a failed cause anyway even if he gets justice in the end.

[@mamatapandey6073]

yeah that's how world works but what about family of other 66 people who died in this accident they must be from affluent bg too but she and her husband were the ones who didn't give up so i would say it's really appreciable .., also don't forget about sharabjits sister she was also poor look how she fought for justice yeah there is no one to help poor for justice because most of the people have their own problems i mean we should see ourselves how many people have we helped? we are also just bypassers who would just pity people

[@rekhakumar6295]

A great mother and a fighter🙏🙏

[@ShailendraSinghChauhanKing]

Why it took 24 years, this is how System Works, no measure for Pain & Agony suffered in these 24 years for Justice. Should I be happy for this 24years delayed Justice. We need to do something. We can't let this go on

[@LoveIsLifeTurkishIndia]

Just same like this banks are mistreating the borrowers . But no one is talking on this matter unless some big tragedy happens

[@mrs.dianawilliams1226]

Just watched the show,i didn't know this incident. Hats off to this courageous couple. U r a real hero. Great determination.

[@nitinsood4]

Salute to you brave woman. You have set a great example for those who are still awaiting justice. Keep fighting . Your kids will be proud of you 👍

[@trueindian510]

I watched trail by fire...it's must watch.

[@renuprasad8967]

Salute to the mother!

[@johnhinn448]

They are the real heros ❤❤. Thank you Netflix and thank you mam for giving us hope ❤ 😢 🙏🙏

[@samrat447]

I remmember this case. I was in school. I also remember the movie that was being shown in the cinema hall, it was Border starring Sunny Deol, Akshay Khanna,Sunil Shetty, Jackie Shroff and others......In my opinion this sentence of 7 years is too little too late but at least this mother got some closure and the old buggers will spend their old age behind bars.

[@georgecarlinn6288]

It is just one year not seven by supreme court

[@rajeshwarramaiyan7499]

No one is above law. But the rich and powerful buy the law.

[@pandian101010]

24 yrs..." Justice delayed is justice denied", she is a strong mother to fight for justice , but they got 1ly 7 years. Thinking of many illiterate & poor who cannot afford for justice.

[@ianeldred841]

This woman is an inspiration

[@rawcomments6783]

The Real Iron Lady Of India. ❤

[@mandarpawar5179]

Mam hats off to bottom of my heart 💓 .... thank you so much for becoming a example

[@kpsingh9810]

RIP to all the victims , RIP to her both children . She is a brave lady 🙏🙏 but we should improve judicial system , 24 year is a very long time .

[@vikasapte7952]

The.strength.of.a mother 🙏🙏🙏

[@roopalipanchal2163]

I just watched the series and I'm into deep gloom mere watching you I don't know how you kept it alive. Hats off to yu ma'am. May god bless you and your husband.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@natashatuli7535]

Hats off to her .If one is determined nothing is impossible it's a matter of faith 🙏

[@bobin8772]

Trial by fire 😭😭😭🙏🙏

[@seema6168]

Even I am a victim of a fraud but don’t know whom to go for justice. These ppl have their reach everywhere. If someone could help me find out a fearless person or system which can act against the frauds without any influence.

[@yashaswidalal119]

I myself am a victim of fraud. We belonging to middle class family did file a complaint in cyber police but all in vain. Only answer we get is this happens every day with so many people. We should have been more vigilant. I guess they are so frustrated with the piled up cases they don't even bother to pay heed to crying victims.

[@sukhjeetkaur3981]

I have seen no human being so brave ❤️😘🙏

[@mnprimeproperties9753]

Great mother .

[@nesarag9546]

Powerful strong woman. What a mother. She spent her whole youth to get justice for her children

[@MukeshSharma-rx5qn]

Mam salute to you...for justice thanks to you for our re generation,

[@thevoicerapstar]

Need to know more on this story

[@Optimistic15983]

Justice delayed is justice denied

[@PrasadRajeshirke]

Salute to you, Mother.

[@aniltrd1818]

Well done to a mother 👏

[@abhinandansood9660]

A fighter 🙏

[@kamakshisharma786]

God bless

[@SauravKumar-ic4ly]

The reality...... The rich and powerful should not be above law but in reality, they are. Laws are only meant for the middle class, poor people here in India. You can take any example...The rich can afford the best legal team, the poor cannot.

[@momitamajumdar2064]

I salute u mam after watching the exact story of ur struggle I feel tht every mother every parent shd take a lesson from you and ur husband.tht judiciary has to see the truth and acc the judgment prevails.Hats off ur children will be proud of you wherever they are.

[@elizabethjoseph87]

Rest in peace to all the people who died in this tragedy 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@lilyza4840]

Why in Indian system, people get justice after a long time or get no justice 🤯???

[@sarmaskks1911]

because we have corrupt govt officials, where rich buy law and poor suffers. but i think under modi govt corruption is reducing slowly.

[@s.s4656]

@@sarmaskks1911 ohhh that's why no one can RTI on pm care fund. 😆

[@athensmajnoo3661]

@@sarmaskks1911 true100%, Rich can BUY law, while helpless poor have to sit and cry☹️☹️ Modi government should look in to this.

[@naseem1402]

7 years is actually too less for such a crime - watched the show and I felt so bad for the families

[@sayandas3402]

good reporting

[@nishapillay5045]

Salute to you

[@divakarkupilli5211]

Bollywood getting ready to make movie

[@vinayakpanicker7915]

When mother decides . Ur doomed dude. No matter who you are. If she can create, she can destroy. I know she may never get peace.. but salute to her .. lots of love

[@banksy2870]

What nonsense! Just because she is a mother does not mean she has some super human powers or something. There are so many mothers whose children get killed and they are unable to bring the criminals to justice.

[@lol311]

This is just an overly optimistic dialogue and nothing. Go to UP, you'll find out.

[@vinayakpanicker7915]

Well I don't see anything wrong being optimistic. ☺️ I can understand what you guys mean. But still I would say the same.

[@banksy2870]

@@vinayakpanicker7915 Every child believes his father to be all powerful. Your statement is just like that - it is silly and immature to say something like that.

[@vinayakpanicker7915]

@@banksy2870 well like I said I completely agree with you. But eventually aren't they heroes? You are here because of them in the first place 😂

[@kunalgulati1]

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of you who have lighted the flame within us Memories saturate my heart and the story of you spills from my eyes 🕉️🙏🏻

[@kanwalimran511]

Love her ❤ came while watching series... Love from Pakistan

[@rajatmalhotra1748]

judiciary is in sad state. my heart cried for all affected people, its most difficult to loose a child and where u have lost both, it takes heart to stand. They should suffer like all those who exhausted in the event.

[@yajasmittal4561]

24 years to wait for just 7 years of jail it’s justice not done

[@amitpandey2531]

Justice prevails....at last there is victory of truth...satyamev jayate....

[@mrinmaysarma9094]

24 years. That's a shame

[@adkblacknight6022]

And the accused only went in jail for 6 months and they were out

[@sushimamitabh]

Watching this video after watching Netflix series Trial by Fire. At the end of the series, they said prime accused were released after 6 months of this judgement. But its still not clear whom to blame for this accident.

[@pencil9790]

Proud moment

[@rahuld592]

Rich And Powerful are not above Law. . . If he is not your favourite actor or politician.

[@hanjihainji5900]

Good

[@abhishekchavan3542]

Should we be proud of our judiciary that she was served justice ? Or shud we be ashamed of our judiciary that it took 24 years to do so??

[@shuvetamunshi405]

Ansals kids didn't die in this fire so they never did understand the pain. Rot in hell Ansals.

[@kakalichakraborty504]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏speechless

[@AristocratePrince]

Such a big shame ..it's such a big shame.... On this type of system... Which took 24 years for a mother to get justice... "BIG SHAME ON THIS INDIAN SYSTEM"😞😞😞😞😞... She was able to afford these 24 years then only she faught. But...what for those who can't afford?????

[@avanishsarmah2636]

I had no idea about this tragedy until I saw this web series, I believe it is through ott platforms we will get to know more about such infamous tragedies and massacres which happened in our country, this incident was a case of manslaughter, how can so many people be trapped locked in a movie theatre

[@priyasinghal3426]

I came here after watching a series at Netflix..Trial by Fire..shameful Indian justice system...what a tragedy it was..and I am so sure all these will happen again and indian justice system will fail again...I live in USA and this show is on international platform...will be seen by all these Americans and they will ask us the questions that's what happened there...

[@Dhruv-Malik]

❤️🙏

[@ronaldoobrooks4356]

24 years , what justice is that .

[@daddy9132]

Its simple,no one can beat a morher when she fights,❤❤❤

[@user-ht5es9ng4j]

Took 24 years.... To declare a 7 year term! Speaks volumes of our judiciary 🙃

[@garysingh4017]

🙏🙏

[@sayit3194]

Sooner or later truth wins justice

[@Eveready-b2u]

It's shameful and unfair how the rich and influential can walk away with anything. if the Ansals had not succumbed to their greed, if safety checks were done regularly it is possible all of them wouldve survived.

[@RajKumar-ub4jt]

🙏

[@actnatural6917]

Salman bhai is great example

[@jits2516]

These 2 guys are now out after serving 1-2 years....7 years was just on paper...our justice system is rotten and completely pro convict

[@varunshedigudde1880]

After 24years seriously?

[@user-tq4vj3ck9t]

Real heroine

[@athensmajnoo3661]

The justice system in this country should be overhauled ASAP. period. 24 freekin years of agonizing wait, and fight for a 7 year sentence 😱😱, boy thats Not fair by any standards.

[@nehadhawan9257]

👍

[@vijayraina5189]

There are comments about Ansals in this section. Have the people ever tried to find whose dereliction of duties and responsibilities caused the fire accident ? Has even a single person been investigated or punished from the Delhi Vidyut Board who were the prime culprits in this episode? Was it a conspiracy to victimise Ansals? The media should bring forth the reality of this case.

[@nadianaveed3649]

There’s a movie on Netflix,based on this tragedy trial by fire

[@poojawadhvane]

I hope you have attained peace in your life after this. Your Children would want you to live happily now.

[@Randomlyme]

Only 7 yrs really

[@chandranidutta7747]

Judges take so much break that they don't get time to do their work. 24 years! Huh!!

[@truthprevails0629]

24 years to prove guilty as guilty 39 years to prove inocent an inocent. 3 Kashmiris one 17, 21, 20 accused in 1993 case were, freed due to lack of evidance but it took almost 39 years

[@gyansahu2894]

A true fighter!

[@bipankhibhattacharyya7672]

I was not even born at that time🙄😥

[@indigobrain7450]

24yrs.! & still saying it a win? Pathetic.