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 )

Our hearts bleed and beat for Mumbai..

In order to condemn the Mumbai attack on 26th Nov 2008 an e-mail was sent out across India calling out citizens to act. Calling it as an opportunity for everyone to gather and make their opinion count, various venues were selected for a mass gathering across the 6 metros.

In Delhi it was organized near Jantar Mantar and a huge crowd of about 500-600 people had gathered to express their emotions in form of slogans, posters and lit candles. It started at 6:30 pm today, (Dec 3rd 2008) with people chanting slogans against the politicians followed by many patriotic songs. The anger was palpable. Our resilient nature was being questioned? Why were Indians resilient? When America was attacked on 11th September they stepped up the security leaves to such a level that till date there has not been a single terror attack anywhere. While India has suffered almost 3 major attacks in the past 6 months and every time we seem to say- “ We’ll not let it happen next time !” The videos below capture the mood of the gathering.

Media was asked not to let the fervor die down and should try to keep the spirit of the Indians alive. Onus of creating a platform was taken up by Mr. Sudhakar who shared his phone number with the audience. He invited the audience to help him set up a group and that would act as a platform for addressing such issues and making life for every one peaceful and safe. Another gentleman encouraged everyone to join the website www.yuwa.in and voice their views. Catch the video:



People unanimously asked for all the terrorists to be hanged to death so that we do not again fall down on our knees at the demands of various terror groups in return of hijacked planes and other terror strikes. Here’s the video:



Politicians were criticized in a big way. People questioned the equality of reward distribution with Abhinay Bindra earning 3 crores for winning an Olympic gold while Unnikrishnan’s family being given just 5 lacs for his bravery. Ballots of the deserving candidates being captured and the masses being forced to continue voting for the undeserved. Have a look:



This is just the start. Hope to see a revolution emerge just like phoenix from the ashes of all innocent lives lost at the hands of evil. Watch this space for a “blow by blow” account of the attack which will be updated in the next 24 hours. That will follow with a tribute to the great fighters who fought for us and saved our lives.

Slogans





People Lighting Candles



The Agitation

A Week Past...

Taj Attacked



"They can rip us apart, they can blow everything to bits, they can pump bullets into our businesses but we- our core undefeated and intact- pick up the pieces fast and restore ourselves. They can gut our hotels but they can’t destroy our guts. INDIA FIGHTS BACK.” Thus ran a quote on ET’s front page a week after terrorist attack on Mumbai- calling it India’s 9/11.

A week after 60 hrs of battle. A battle to save the lives of innocents held at gunpoint.
A week after the death of almost 200 people out of which 30 were foreigners.
A week after we lost our brave soldiers- Karkare, Salvaskar, Kaamte and many more
A week after baby Moshe was orphaned and Viraj lost his mother at CST (the one year baby drinking water in the arms of a Head Constable Suresh Salunkhe police officer- A picture that appeared on the front page of ET)
A week after we witnessed death, tears and helplessness in front of our eyes.

Attack on CST





Its been a week since I have been trying to put my thoughts together but some how words seemed to fall short of describing the utter bewilderment and sadness that dawned on me as I scanned through the news channels soaking in any information on the hostage situation on 27th Nov 2008. It had been 28 hours and firing, blood and grenade attacks could be seen everywhere. The news channels surrounded the Taj like falcons hovering around, waiting for an animal to die.
Right from the common man like Bhishm Mansukhani who had gone to Taj to attend a wedding, to the known like- Shyam Benegal, Shobha De, Lata Mangeshkar and many more were asked to comment on the terror attack.

Operation at Nariman House




It was quite an opportunity for our dear politicians though. With assembly elections round the corner, Mumbai blast became an agenda for them to woo votes. (Elections were held in Delhi on 29th Nov, 2008, as scheduled). Their lackadaisical approach and Mah CM Deshmukh asking the special task forces to march towards Mumbai hours after the attack only increased the casualty count. The people were being killed indiscriminately while the NSG commandos waited for a plane to fly down from Delhi to be taken to Mumbai. And then they were carried to the attacked sites in the Mumbai BEST buses. (While our cricketrs get the deluxe- state-of –the-art buses). It only left the common man wondering at the un-preparedness of India in the wake of any such national calamity. The forces are not to be blamed. NSG’s request for an aircraft for their use was not agreed by the authorities and government.

Who says the so called leaders didn’t come to share grief with the masses? Mr. Modi was outside The Oberoi after 37 hours of gunbattle that only led to the police force run helter skelter for his security. Utter nuisance.
Many leaders could not make it due to their assembly election schedule. After all, in the words of Mr. R. R Patil, Former Deputy CM of Maharashtra “ Aisi chhoti moti vaardaat toh hoti rehti hai.”

While Unnikrishnan breathed his last facing a volley of bullets from the militants inside the Taj, the government did not even prepare a befitting funeral for the martyr. And when Unnikrishnan’s father slammed the door on the face of Kerala CM- Achuthanandan asking him to leave immediately in a fit of anger (justified) the CM says “Had it not been Unnikrishnan, even a dog would not have come to this house!” Aghast as I am, we need to get rid of the weeds from our nation where people like Unni, Salaskar, Tukaram Omble (who took the bullets of the only arrested terrorist- Ajmal Ameer Kasab at the Chowpaty helping other officers to overpower Kasab), Bertie Gomes, Banja, Paramjit Singh and many other employees of the two hotels who realized their duty and gave their lives for its sake.
They knew what it was to be born an Indian. They knew what it took to be an Indian.

Stories on politicians and their reactions have been filling up a lot of air time on news channels and space on all the dailies. Now is the time when we can get together and bring about change in the system. Its not the politicians but you and me who make India. Its Us who can make this change happen.

Victims



Lucky yet Unlucky - Rescued