A Wednesday !

A blow by blow account of the terrorist attack.



Of what recently came to be known as India’s 9/11 had its roots in Pakistan, as reported by the officials. Kasab- the only terrorist in custody admits that he hails from Pakistan and was the one who killed Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte. As per official news, all the terrorists were trained by ex- army officials for over a year and this was their “internship task.” Currently Kasab is under custody and following is the account of how the terror account unfolded.

Ten terrorists (there is a possibility of more) started their killer journey from Karachi via sea route. As they entered the Indian seas they hijacked an Indian fishing trawler and later used a rubber dinghy to walk up the shore and enter Bombay through the Gateway of India. At Gateway of India the 10 terrorists split in five groups of 2 each. Each terrorist carried Rs. 6,200 in cash. Each group had 1 bomb each. That equals five bombs. Two of these bombs were planted in 2 cars outside Taj and Oberoi.

One of the group headed towards The Taj, one towards CST, one towards Café Leopold, one towards the Oberoi Hotel and one towards Nariman house.

Wednesday, 26th Nov, 2008. 21:30 hrs
Café Leopold. Colaba. South Mumbai.

It is life as usual. Someone laughing, someone waiting for their order. The waiters making the rounds. Business is in full swing. Its dinner time.
Bang! Enter two militants brandishing machine guns and in no time they start firing all around indiscriminately. Cries, chaos, disaster. Someone ducks below the tables, someone falls. Those who run outside are gunned down too. Terrorists move towards the Taj. The terror journey begins.


Wednesday, 26th Nov, 2008. 21:30 hrs
Nariman House. Jeweish Centre. Colaba. South Mumbai.

The Holtzbergs are hosting dinner for five ultra- orthodox Jewish travelers this fateful night. Kocher meal and bed for the night has been offered to the guests. While Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka play hosts, nanny Sandra runs after the two year old Moshe.
In no time the Jew family and there guests are stunned to see at least two men storm in fraying bullets in all directions. All are taken hostage. The rabbi makes calls to the Israeli Consulate but not much help comes to rescue.
As the time passes the situation turns grimmer and un-controllable. Sandra Samuel, the nanny of Moshe hides in one of the rooms. Later next day, on hearing Moshe calling out her name, she will rush her way out with the baby in her arms but his parents dead.


Wednesday, 26th Nov, 2008. 21:55 hrs
CST. South Mumbai.

Fathers returning from office. Mothers carrying children back home. One year old Viraj with his parents and elder sister walking on the platform. Its rush hour.
The routine hustle is shattered as Kasab and Abu Dera Ismail Khan open fire. Sudden outbreak. Some people rushing back in the train compartments, few running away towards Platform1 (in the opposite direction). Vendors finding refuge behind their counters. Some one is seen pulling out an injured lady amongst the dead and in a second he’s down in a pool of blood. It’s as if you are watching “Saving Private Ryan” live. Soon RPF policemen and the ticket collector fall prey. 55 more lives lost.
Minutes after the attack- shattering silence, which is broken by sobs and cries of the one year old Viraj and many like him who look around shaken and scared. Crying out for their parents. Crying out for help. Crying out to save them. Crying out in pain.
By then its time for Kasab and Ismail to create havoc in the Cama Hospital. By10 pm ATS chief Hemant Karkare reaches CST.


Wednesday, 26th Nov, 2008. 22:00 hrs
The Taj Mahal Hotel. Gateway of India. South Mumbai.

Bertie Gomes , the senior most bartender and the man behind the famous Harbour bar was attending to his guests. With the wedding season on, revelry was at its peak.
Shooters from Café Leopold arrive at the Taj and are joined by two others who make their way into the hotel through a side entry. This is the beginning of a 60 hr battle in aamchi Mumbai.


Wednesday, 26th Nov, 2008. 22:15 hrs
Hotel Trident- Oberoi. Nariman Point. South Mumbai.

The staff scurrying in the lobby greeting the guests with a wide warm smile. Need to be efficient and perfect. Guests being shown the way to the main hall, some being guided to their suites. Its season time and there is no margin for error.
As if the time stood still as the two figures marched in, whipped out machine guns and opened fire. Instantly the staff members are gunned down while the guests are ushered in by the rest of the staff members without any warm smile but with an effort of responsibility and valour. Putting their lives at stake. Executive manager, Mr. Paramjit Singh who had gone out for a smoke hears gun shot and rushes in to make sure the guests are at harms bay. Sanju Soni, the restaurant manager shuts the doors and asks the guests to stay calm.
Two loud explosions follow in the next half an hour and with that starts the 2 day siege of the Trident- Oberoi.

Wednesday, 26th Nov, 2008. 22:40 hrs
Cama Hospital.

After indiscriminate firing across railway platform and roads the militants reach Cama Hospital where they try and enter the maternity wards. The women inside together with few men latch the doors and prevent the terrorists from entering.
In the meantime the police gets news on the bomb blasts in Vile Parle and Dockyard Road Station. The bombs were planted in taxis.
By 11 pm, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte reach the hospital and lose their lives to the bullets of the terrorists. They grab the police vehicle and make their way to Vidhan Bhavan shooting as they pass the Metro Cinema junction and killing few bystanders and a policeman. Near Vidhan Bhavan the police vehicle suffers a flat tyre and the terrorists hijack a skoda at gunpoint . At Girgaum Chowpatty they are intercepted by the police while negotiating a U- turn. It is at this moment, that the brave inspector, Omble grabs Kasab’s gun barrel and refuses to let him go. Kasab continues firing but Omble holds on and takes all the bullets. Other policemen overpower Kasab and he’s immediately arrested.

Whole Wednesday night the gun-battle between forces and terrorists continue. By this time the Marine Commandos, NSG Officers and Rapid Action force have been called to action.
Whole of Thursday, 27th Nov, 2008 passes by with forces trying to pull out a plan to rescue hostages and gun down the terrorists. In the Taj and Trident the staff continues to usher guests to the safest of places. Banja, the chef makes sandwiches for guests to calm them down. Hospitality, responsibility and humanity at its best.


Friday, 28th Nov, 2008.
Nariman House. Jeweish Centre. Colaba. South Mumbai.

NSG commandos land on the roof tops of Nariman house to attack the militants. Commandos break the roof as snipers give cover. Thus begins a battle of bullets, grenades and bombs which lasts for another 15 hours.
In Trident, by 3pm, the hotel is declared neutralized. 32 people dead, 10 staff members among them.

At around 5 pm in the Nariman House, a huge explosion in the fourth floor helps the commandos to trickle down. By 10 pm Nariman house is neutralized by the commandos. The street lights up with crowds cheering for the valiant efforts of the commandos. People shake hands and click photographs with the heroes. Operation though successful, leaves five hostages, and one commando dead. All terrorists are neutralized. By this time many hostages have been rescued from various attacked sites.


Saturday, 29th Nov, 2008.
The Taj Mahal Hotel. Gateway of India. South Mumbai.

Taj has been under siege for almost 60 hours when at 8:30 am on Saturday. NSG begins the final assault. With smoke billowing from the Taj dome and bullets and grenades being fired, the commandos make their way inside the hotel and after hours of explosions and fire and smoke at 8:30 am on Saturday, 29th Nov, 2008 the Taj is declared neutralized.


DISCLAIMER:
(The details have been taken from various websites and dailies and is as per information published for public view. At some places, narration has been given an imaginary twist to the settings to make the article more realistic. In no way is the author trying to suggest anything )