“We’ve all, we’ve all been broken ..
Shattered, left mute with regrets unspoken
We’ve all loved and lost
Been forsaken, repented our deepest trust.
We’ve all wondered why
Destiny picked us to cry
Why faith has to be tested,
& life doesn’t turn out the way intended.
We’re mended, mended to be broken
Yet human clay believes itself golden
Stunning in its courage to be happy
As wild elations tempered with black melancholy …”
— a song by MOTHERJANE
I don’t know what to say, where to begin and when to end …
The horrendous terror attack on MUMBAI which began on 26/11/2008 and went on until 29/11/2008 has left the city and eventually the whole nation shattered, devastated and outraged. The cataclysmic events that took place at 10 distinct locations in the city, that followed a 60 hour long nonstop ordeal is one of the most dreadful and heinous terror attacks in the World’s history , and the worst on Indian soil ever …
MUMBAI TERROR TARGETS
I could not sink in the stories and reports continuously aired live over news channels for the past 5 days. It was hard to believe what we could see, the torment which civilians had to go through.
The pain and agony that the trapped hostages went through, we can perhaps never understand, but their faces and behaviour said it all …
I would urge you’ll to first salute the guardian’s of Indian citizens ,without whom the atrocious incident would have taken more sinister turn and the numbers of dead/injured would have been radically more.
Salute to valiant Mumbai Police officers :
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Shri. Hemant Karkare (IPS)
Joint Commissioner Of Police, A.T.S., Mumbai.
-
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Shri. Vijay Salaskar
Police Inspector,
Anti Extortion Cell, Mumbai.
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Shri. Praksh P. More
Police Sub Inspector,
L.T.Marg Police Station
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Shri. Bapusaheb Durugade
Police Sub Inspector,
L.A.1, Naigaon
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Shri. Tukaram G. Omble
Asst. Police Sub Inspector,
D.B.Marg Police Station
Watch how Tukaram Omble fought to make sure atleast one terrorist was caught alive by sacrificing his own life . ” Nation and duty first , then self …”is what he valiantly potrayed here , “http://ibnlive.in.com/mumbaiattack/photoshow.php?id=1131 -
Shri. Balasaheb Bhosale Asst. Police Sub Inspector
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Shri. Arun Chitte
Police Constable
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Shri. Jaywant Patil
Police Constable
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Shri. Yogesh Patil
Police Constable
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Shri. Ambadas Pawar
Police Constable
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Shri. Rahul S. Shinde
Police Constable, S.R.P.F. Group X, Solapur
Salute to valiant National Security Guards :
1. This young NSG commando, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who did his education in Bangalore, was just 31 years old. His mother recollects that he always dreamt and was inspired to join and be part of the armed forces as a child. His mother emotionally said”… his philosophy in entire life was to serve the nation first and foremost…. ” . A close friend and former colleague of Sandeep’ s father Unnikrishnan at ISRO emotionally said, ” he did what he wanted to, he was a son every parent would dream of ..” .
“Do not come up, I will handle them.” These were probably the last words Sandeep told his while he was hit with bullets fired by terrorists.
2. Commando Chander
(if anyone gets Commando Chander’s photo please provide me the link or mail me)
We express with humble gratitude our deepest condolences on the loss of all these brave men. Our heartfelt sympathies go their family members, children, friends and relatives.
V D Zende ,accouncer at CST who saved many lives :
V D Zende, an announcer at the suburban hall of CST, showed courage under fire. He prompted the people present in the Chatrapati Shivaji Station (CST) to run safely to the exit of the station. Everyday around 40 lakh people travel and go through CST. He is working for CST for last 30 years.
With his quick thinking saw 2 men indiscriminately firing at people and showed people the other route to exit , where a Masjid is situated. He repeatedly told people around to flee away, which shows the courage he showed in this tense situation. The indicator operator, helper and Mr.Zende hid in a room, while gunmen shot at them. Gunmen missed at them and no one was shot at.
Sir, the whole nation stands in respect and towards the daring you showed here. We are proud to have people like you.
Following is a chronology of the 60-hour terror trauma in India’s financial capital that began on Wednesday night which left atleast 183 people confirmed dead , including 22 foreigners and 300 plus people injured.
Chronology of Mumbai terror attack:
(Indo-Asian News Service )
November 26 (Wednesday)
10 pm: A group of terrorists, armed with automatic rifles, grenades and explosives, sneak into Mumbai by boat, presumably from Karachi.
10.15 pm: Firing, apparently from automatic weapons, at police and paramilitary forces outside the Taj Mahal Hotel in south Mumbai.
10.20 pm: Firing near Hotel Trident — another five-star hotel — barely a kilometre away.
10.30 pm : Firing near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Suspected terrorists hijack a police jeep near Metro Cinema.
12.00 pm: Firing continues near the Taj hotel where around 2,000 guests and staff were stranded. The top floor of the famous hotel catches fire after a bomb explosion.
November 27 (Thursday)
2 am: Mumbai Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare killed in firefight with terrorists. Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Mumbai Police encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar also killed in separate gun battles.
10 fresh gunshots ring out at the Taj hotel.
2.30 pm: Maharashtra Director General of Police A N Roy says no more hostages in the Taj hotel.
5 pm : Email sent by unknown group, Mujahideen Hyderabad Deccan, to television channels warning of more attacks.
5.30 pm: Flames billow out of a window at the Taj hotel and gunfire heard from the Oberoi Trident. Security forces prepare for final assault.
8 pm : Major fire breaks out inside the Oberoi Trident following a large explosion and gun battles between security agencies and terrorists.
9.30 pm: Senior Army officer says 10-12 terrorists still hiding in the three places.
10.30 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Mumbai.
10.40 pm : Fire breaks out at the Taj hotel again. Huge flames leap up from the roof.
November 28 (Friday)
2.30 am: Two blasts heard at Nariman House in south Mumbai.
5.00: Third blast heard at Nariman House. National Security Guard (NSG) commandos take positions.
6.00: Silence at the luxury hotels as commandos moved in.
7.15: Commandos airdropped on roof of Nariman House.
12 noon: Fresh firing between terrorists and commandos at all three sites.
2.45 pm: Commandos take control of the Oberoi Trident.
7.30: Commandos battle last of terrorists at the Taj hotel.
November 29 (Saturday)
3.50 am: Intense gunfire on first floor of Taj.
7.45: Fire breaks out on lower floors of Taj.
8.20: Commandos complete operation at Taj.
12.00 pm: NSG confirms that all terrorists have been killed at Taj.
3.30: Manmohan Singh meets defence and intelligence officials in New Delhi.
4.30: Indian government announces death toll of 183, including 22 foreigners.
Each image tells us its own story :
LOOKS AS IF BIRDS ARE TRYING TO SAVE THIS MAJESTIC AND HISTORICAL BUILDING
Heart-wrenching moments:
Its extremely high time that our laws are made more stringent and open. The raw fact is that our politicians fail us.
My thoughts were grappling incessantly to nothing ,when Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil said these unkind words, “Aisa nahi hai. Itne bade shahar mein chhota hadsa ho jata hai. To total failure nahi hai. (It is not like that. In big cities like this, small incidents do happen. It’s is not a total failure.”
My questions to politicians …
How much more intensifying incident than this 60 hour terror assault you’ll want to see ? In how many places other than Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore do you want the attacks to occur , so that to take concrete measures are taken. Is this latest incident so minuscule to exclaim such statements in public ?
What are you’ll waiting for ?
When will the powers be , initiate severe laws to protect the citizens of our country ?
How many more terror attacks ??
How many more valiant Indian martyr’s ?
How many more images of mothers crying , their bodies barely able to stand but wanting touch their son’s forehead ?
How many brave wives of Policeman, defence personnel, Commandos, firemen, eminent scientists, eminent businessmen , CEO’s at last rites trying to console themselves as well as her young children ?
How many more innocent lives ??
How many more injured people lying on hospital beds ??
How many more traumatized lives ??
How many more loved ones lost ? How many mothers losing their sons and daughters ?
How many parents have to stand and see through their eyes , their own progeny’s pyre/cremation/coffin/burial ?
How many sons peforming rituals and last rites of their brave fathers ?
How many sisters ? How many brothers ? How many more families ? How many more friends ?
The nation is furious, irritated and enraged as ever ,today ..
We want actions & solutions with hard talks, not fake proposals & false promises. Is one terror attack is not enough for these people to understand the seriousness of this situation ? The history of Mumbai’s terror attacks has time and again shown how vulnerable this city is to terror attacks, yet the Indian government hasn’t taken a single significant step to crack down on nationwide terror.
Public places, railway stations , famous joints, hotels, business centres, God forsaken even hospitals are not spared by these indecent terrorists
Mr. P.R.S. Oberoi , Chairman & CEO of Oberoi group in an interview last night said “Our government is reactive, not proactive. We need the latter more. There is a limit to how much individual hotels can secure their property. The concept of hospitality will change in this country if the government does not act.”
I am sure each and every Indian agrees to this fact that the government is more reactive, waiting for such ghastly incidents to happen and then they will take initiatives. Initiatives will not be in full swing, with interest and lawful, but just to keep the Indian mouths shut and stop the media from focussing on the same points again and again ,repeatedly.
After this attack ,India has been named among 20 most dangerous places in the world. It’s not exciting to hear this at all, especially when the nation is growing to be one of the topmost developed nation in the whole world. It could affect our economy in days to come.
Pakistan’s President Mr.Zardari was so unethical in his talks with Karan Thaper “Devils Advocate”. What irked me to the core is this statement ” As the President of Pakistan, let me assure you that if any evidence points towards any individual or group in my part of the country, I will take the strictest of action in the light of the evidence and in front of the world.”
Oh , so you have spent so many years in Pakistan’s politics along with your wife and you dont know there are terror camps in Pakistan ? The whole world knows about terror camps inhabited and harboured in Pakistan and ISI is the main source of Intelligence. Long while agon when Benazir Bhutto was having peace talks with India , she revealed that she didn’t know about some inside government elements helping out to the terrorists. So can you not take steps from your side as President of Pakistan to find out more ? I felt you were talking for someone else, not representing the people of Pakistan. You showed such callousness in speaking Mr. Zardari that your own countrymen wont believe you, let alone the world aside.
Sir, when you spoke that your heart bleeds, you hardly meant it. If you really are concerned, then act now. It’s too late I suppose, but to restore the faith , you may atleast for the sake of your wife prove that you are a man of deeds , and not simply a man of words …
The whole excerpt of this candid conversation can be read here :
With Mr. Zardari :
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-pak-threatened-from-same-forces-zardari/79374-2.html
Dialogue never hurt anyone : Mani Shaknar Aiyar
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dialogue-never-hurt-anyone-mani-shankar-aiyar/79446-3.html
Diplomacy is much more than sweet talk : Yashwant Sinha
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/diplomacy-is-much-more-than-sweet-talk-yashwant-sinha/79445-3.html
An incident that shows the anger within people coming out and being vent on polititians, the first public outbreak for intolerance in the dirty Indian political system, Major Sandeep’s father Unnikrishnan was the man in news.
(Excerpt TOI)
The anger against the political class in wake of the Mumbai terror attack boiled over with slain NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s father literally shooing away Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan on Sunday.
The CM, who had been criticized for his delay in offering condolences to the bereaved family, who hail from Kerala, tried to make up by calling on the Unnikrishnans. But he failed to anticipate the rejection he would meet at the residence of the fallen soldier. The dead commando’s father did not tolerate the CM’s presence and shouted at him to leave at once. ( Watch )
Opposition parties in Kerala have accused the state government of having shown disrespect to the Kerala-born soldier, who lost his life while combating terrorists in Mumbai, by not sending any minister to his funeral, attended by a large number of people, including Karnataka CM B S Yeddyurappa, here on Saturday.
Achuthanandan, accompanied by home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, had rushed to the city on Sunday evening.
As Sandeep’s father remained firm that no politician should enter his house and refused to meet the leaders from his own state, police persuaded Dhanalakshmi, the slain commando’s mother, to talk to the guests.
Amid continued protests from the father, Balakrishnan gave words of comfort to Dhanalakshmi and Achuthanandan followed him. Unnikrishnan reportedly said he would commit suicide if any politician entered his house.
He had told his friends that his son, whose valour was witnessed by the entire country, did not belong to Kerala alone but to the entire nation.
Unnikrishnan refused to allow police sniffer dogs into the house when security personnel came there ahead of the Kerala CM’s visit to perform their duties.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Achuthanandan in Thiruvananthapuram said the political secretary of the CM had attended the funeral.
— to be continued
Must read :
- Rajdeep Sardessai : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/weekend-edition-india-asks-how-much-is-too-much/79401-3-p0.html
- India named among 20 most dangerous places after Mumbai terror attacks : http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/mumbaiterrorstrike/Election_Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080074678&type=News
- Pak warns and fears a war like situation with rising tensions within India and Pakistan. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pak-fears-warlike-situation–but-zardari-diplomatic/79400-2.html
SHETTY'S WORDS WORTH 