26/11: MUMBAI REMEMBERS, INDIA REMEMBERS

Come this 26/11, just a couple of hours later, Mumbai will remember the most tragic terrorist attack in its history. The attack was not alike all other terrorist attacks. This was an attack which was different and was just not expected. It were more than 10 co-ordinated attacks of bombing and shooting which

continued till 29th November. The attacks in return took lives of more than 173 people and wounded at least 308. Lakshar-e-Toiba (LeT) was identified as the terror group behind it after Mohammad Ajmal Amir, the only captured terrorist, testified regarding the same. The Indian Government later quoted that the attackers hailed from Pakistan and they were instructed by their high-command which was also based in Pakistan.

It all was quite scripted from 2000 hrs in Coloba when 10 urdu-speaking men arrived at the shore. They later, reportedly told local fishermen to "mind their business" before they split up and headed two different ways. The local fishermen did duly informed the police about the same which resulted in a very little response.

Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), was the first to be attacked chronologically at 2145 hrs. Two gunmen attacked the rail station off which Ajmal Kasab was captured by the Police and later identified by eyewitnesses. The attackers possessing AK-47 rifles, killed 52 and injured 107 with their assault ending at 2245 hrs.

The Leopold Café was the second in the attackers hit-list. Located in Colaba, two attackers open fired around its premises killing 10 and injuring many more.  

Later, two taxi bomb blasts were what followed. At around 2220 an explosion took place in a Taxi in Wadi Bunder killing three and injuring 15. The second taxi explosion took place at 2240 in Vile Parle area of Mumbai killing the driver and a passenger.

The most tragic situations were noted in the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi hotels along with the Nariman house. Around six explosions were reported at the Taj hotel and one at the Oberoi Trident. The attackers especially in the Taj had held hostages including foreigners until the morning of 29 November.

Nariman house, a Jewish center, was also held hostage by 2 attackers. Several residents of the center were kept under hostage situation. The Indian National security guards (NSGs) bombarded the house after long battle killing two terrorists and one NSG. Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivkah Holtzberg, who was six months pregnant were murdered along with other hostages by the attackers. Indian guards after the operation found six bodies of hostages inside the house.

The Indian commandos and guards completed their last operation by 0800 hrs of 29 November rescuing 250 people from the Oberai, 300 from Taj and 60 from the Nariman house. Later, a boat filled with arms and explosives anchored at Mazgaon dock off Mumbai harbour was also seized.

The attacks were so brutal and atrocious that it left long-lasting impression over the localities, especially the Mumbaikars. With a not-so good relationship with Pakistan, the attacks had a significant political impact too. Pakistan, since then, have been very weird in their behavior particularly regarding 26/11. They have been not accepting the dossiers provided by the Indian government for about a zillion times and had controversially freed the main man behind the attacks but later convicted just today.

The incident was one that no other nation could anticipate and would pray that nothing alike could just hit them.

Whatever it may, the attacks took 173 innocent people and no one could do a single deed. The attacks filled the young and the old hearts with a sense of scariness that would prevail.

Today, it is the time, to take a voice against this humiliating harsh behavior where a man wants to kill a man.

We will not forget, We will not forgive. It would be great if you'd maintain silence for two minutes as you complete reading this and pray for the souls of the innocent to rest in peace.