6 years ago
New Delhi:
India marks the tenth anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks today that left 166 people dead and over 300 people injured.
Ten years back, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks that lasted three days. The terrorists carried out bomb explosions and holding innocents hostage as a fight back by security forces continued for the next 60 hours. Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, Leopold Cafe were targetted in the attack that made headlines across the world.
Here are the highlights of the tenth anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks.
Ten years after the Mumbai terror attacks, thoughts with families and individuals who suffered. We salute those from the police and security forces who made the supreme sacrifice that day. India remains honour-bound to securing justice, and defeating terrorism #PresidentKovind
- President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 26, 2018
As India observed the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack on Monday, veteran Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who hails from Mumbai, took to Twitter to post an emotional message for those who died while protecting and serving during the terrifying incident. Tendulkar tweeted, "Life sirf lambi nahi, badi bhi honi chahiye. This stands true for all the brave people who protected and served during the #MumbaiTerrorAttack. They proved that no matter what may come, we shall stand united and tall against terror. #2611MumbaiAttacks #NeverForget"
"Time heals", they say. But for Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg -- the grandfather of Moshe Holtzberg who survived the 26/11 carnage at the age of two, having lost his parents to the terror attack on the Nariman House -- time could not heal their trauma despite a decade having passed since the tragedy struck the family.
"Time heals, they say, but for us the pain has only intensified over the last ten years as we see the boy growing," Rabbi Rosenberg told PTI on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks.
As India Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attack, the mastermind of the attack LeT operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi has virtually secured his acquittal and his six accomplices are expecting their exoneration anytime in the near future.
The Mumbai attack case in which seven Lashkar-e-Taiba members are facing charges of planning and executing the deadly strike since 2009 is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror courtthough the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months.
On the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Indian government hit out at Pakistan, saying those responsible for the strike that left 166 people dead still roam free.
"Pakistan is showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice. The planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity. The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Mumbai Police paid a tribute to those killed in the 26/11 attacks
They continue to live in our hearts & memories ever after. A tribute to the martyrs of #2611Attack . #RememberingTheHeroes pic.twitter.com/cMM3bx2LJu
- Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) November 26, 2018
"My tributes to the victims and brave martyrs of dastardly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on its 10th Anniversary. We will continue to seek justice for their families and friends. India will defeat terrorism," Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
Home Minister Rajnath Singg paid tribute to victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. "Today, as the nation observes the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in Mumbai in 2008, we feel the pain of the families who lost their loved ones in that dastardly attack. I salute the courage & sacrifice of our security forces & Police who fought bravely against terrorists," Mr Singh tweeted.
Remembering the brave men who laid down their lives in Mumbai #2611Attack, this day 10 years ago. Even in death you are immortal, your sacrifice is a constant reminder that no depraved act of terror can break the spirit of India. Lest we forget! Jai Hind!: AAP leader Raghav Chadha
The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel will hold a private service to remember the 31 people who died there, news agency AFP reported.
On 10th Anniversary Of 26/11 Attacks, Mumbai Police Pays Tributes
A tribute to the martyrs of #2611Attack https://t.co/IUevX5d0Lo
- Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) November 26, 2018
Congress from its official handle tweeted: "10 years ago, we showed the world that divisive forces cannot break the unity and solidarity among our people. Today, we honour those who lost their lives in the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks."
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and other cabinet ministers pay tribute at the Martyrs' Memorial, Police Gymkhana, on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme is administered by the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. Since its inception in 1984, the programme has paid over $150 million to more than 100 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.
For the select policemen involved in the covert operation to shift 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab from Mumbai to Pune, the phrase "Parcel reached Fox" signalled that the van carrying him had reached the jail where he was to be hanged the next day.
A senior police official involved in carrying out the operation said this was one of the seven code words/phrases used during the exercise, of which only the then home minister RR Patil and a few top police officials were aware of.
We Stand United Against Terrorism: Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the tenth anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks tweeted: "We stand resolute & united against terrorism. Remembering 26/11/2008."
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the tenth anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks tweeted: "We stand resolute & united against terrorism. Remembering 26/11/2008."
"Heartfelt Sympathies With The Families Who Lost Their Dear Ones": Mamata Banerjee
"On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attack, my sincere tribute to those who lost their lives on that day. Salutes to the police and military personnel, and civilians, who put their lives on the line to save people. Heartfelt sympathies with the families who lost their dear ones," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
The attacks masterminded by Hafiz Saeed and executed by his terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and their Pakistan-based backers did not succeed in breaking the spirit of Mumbai and the people of India. The country in fact emerged stronger and took several policy decisions that would go on to strengthen its anti-terrorism framework.
One of the immediate decisions the government took after the attacks was to spread out the NSG commandos to some big cities in what came to be known as "NSG hubs" for faster response to terror attacks.
Remembering Those Who Died In The Terror Attack
Mumbai's police will remember more than a dozen officers who were killed, many while fighting the terrorists, in a ceremony starting 9:30 am. The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel will hold a private service to remember the people who died there. Relatives of the victims will lay wreaths at a police memorial honouring the dead. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will attend the ceremony.
"Grateful Nation Bows To Our Brave Police And Security Forces"
"Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Our solidarity with the bereaved families. A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Us Tells Pakistan To Take Action Against Plotters Of 26/11 Mumbai Attacks
"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates," Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The Department Of State also offered $5 million reward for information leading to "arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted the execution of the attack." Read here.
