Friday, November 28, 2008

Mumbai Under Siege...

Aftershock!!! :

Some philosophize in poetry. Some vituperate in words. Some candle in silence, some parade in demonstration. Some brood eventualities, some vocalize in visual. Some conference on strategy, some indulge in exploit. Some weep at loss, some weep at sympathy. Some courage in reconstruction, some repair in caution.

And some… sitting far, or within us, twitter and chuckle on the completion of a dastardly action…!!!

Events that unfolded :

In the last 48 hrs or so, as you must be aware, more than 150 people have been killed in a first of its kind terrorist attack in South Mumbai. It’s a one of a kind urban warfare that’s happening as I write this blog. South Mumbai is a posh area with all hotels and tourist hangouts. It seems like the terrorist had just that in mind while planning this attack. Western media is terming this as 9/11 of India, possibly because residents of their countries are held hostages. And for God's sake would someone tell the media not to repeat the cliched phrase "Spirit of Mumbai"!!! Utter bullshit!!! A few points of facts and news reports that have been unveiled as of now:

  • ·         The terrorists have come directly from the “neighboring” country it seems. They have clearly planned out this sea route attack months in advance and executed it brutally over 100s of innocent civilians.
  • ·         They arrived at around 9:30pm on 26th November and scattered across different locations in the city. They went to CST (Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus) and sprayed bullets over dozens in the waiting room), Cama Hospital where they engaged in a battle with the ATS and Mumbai Police. ATS chief was killed in the incident. The terrorists were finally shot down. Among the other scattered groups, one group sprayed bullets near Metro Cinema, Leopold Café, and then entered Taj Hotel, one group entered Trident Hotel and another holed up inside Nariman House.
  • ·         Presently a battle is raging on between the NSG commandos, the MARCOS (Marine Commandos) and the terrorist holed up inside Nariman House and Taj Heritage Hotel overlooking India Gate.
  • ·         Trident Hotel (formerly Oberoi) has been freed of all terrorists. Two terrorist have been killed and all possible hostages have been rescued in the morning. Some have been killed, the exact number of which is unknown.
  • ·         Gujrat CM Narendra Modi couldn’t find a better time to spew political propaganda and accuse the Prime Minister.
  • ·         External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee directly accuses Pakistani elements for the attack while Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Quereshi was quick to tell the media that this is not a time for political altercation.
  • ·         PM Manmohan Singh calls up his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani and asked the ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha to come to India and cooperate in the investigations of the Mumbai attack. The Pakistani President has approved the request and also called up PM in this regard. This is a first of its kind direct face to face talk between chief of intelligence of the two neighboring countries on a particular terrorist attack.
  • ·         The whole incident has attracted a lot of media attention all over the world, the reason being that residents from US, UK, Israel, Japan, Canada, Finland, Spain and other countries have been involved in the onslaught. The US terrorist “experts” are quick to point their fingers towards Al-Qaida.
  • ·         Fifteen policemen and two NSG personnel have lost their lives in the anti terror operations, says Maharastra Deputy CM, R R Patil. NSG officer Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was killed in the operation at Taj Hotel.
  • ·     NSG commandos have blasted the 4th floor of Nariman House. All terrorists are said to have been neutralized. Nariman House encounter appears to be over now. Fate of hostages/injured civilians inside Nariman House are unknown. Meanwhile, Taj Hotel has seen a fierce gunbattle between the security forces and the terrorists.

  • ·     Latest reports coming in saying 5 people have been killed by terrorists at Nariman House. This has been confirmed by the NSG.
  • ·     7:59PM  : Fresh firing has been reported in Nariman House. Clearly there is still a situation out there. Also intermittent firing and blasts are being reported from Taj Hotel.
  • ·     10:17 PM: The operation at Nariman House is finally over, according to the NSG. Five hostages and two terrorists have been found dead inside the building.
  • ·  09:04AM : NSG chief says the 59-hour siege of Taj Hotel is almost over. 3 terrorists have been killed in the Taj operation. 

  • ·     I was watching Times Now all along following the whole ordeal. I would like to applaud the efforts by the news channel especially by Arnab Goswami, the TV camera crew and other reporters. They have been constantly covering the whole incident and reporting Live for the last 48 hrs. Truly phenomenal. Even Amitabh Bachchan appears to have been moved. Here’s an interesting copy from his blog :

     I have been riveted to Times Now and to the incredible anchoring of Arnab. He has been at it non stop for almost 24 hrs; reporting, discussing, interviewing, taking opinion, tirelessly.” 
    Another part of the blog  :
    I am ashamed to say this and not afraid to share this now with the rest of the cyber world, that last night, as the events of the terror attack unfolded in front of me I did something for the first time and one that I had hoped never ever to be in a situation to do.
    Before retiring for the night, I pulled out my licensed .32 revolver, loaded it and put it under my pillow. For a very disturbed sleep.”

3 comments:

shwetha said...

I was filled with rage when i read the news online last morning ... Terrible .. gruesome .. where is our world going ? All this, just for religion ? i seriously don't understand !

will people ever feel secure? Living, not knowing what would happen next ..terrorists get into a railway terminal with machine guns n shoot down people recklessly .. how much worser could it get ? Reminds me of the dialogues in ' a Wednesday' ..

Debankar said...

a terrorist has no religion, no caste and possibly no country! he is just a plain terrorist, a manifestation of evil and a major pest of our world today! how we eliminate these pests are for the govt to decide. all we know is that if the govt doesnt do the needful, the day is not far when we shall see "a Wednesday" in real life, i.e. a civilian taking control of the situation! even as i type in, a fierce battle rages on between the security forces and the terrorists holed up at Taj Hotel for the 3rd consecutive night!

Unknown said...

the answers to the questions why and who is known,the only question left to answering is when next?

Time and again they will come and kill and we will collect the pieces to to build again and to be destroyed again by them.

An immense intelligence failure.

How long will it take us to call a spade a spade!This is a act supported and sponsored by Pakistan to bleed India(and yes debankar,you even falter to name the country;Why so humble?afraid that you will be called right-wing?)

Accept this,Pakistan is a failed state and they have failed in controlling their country.Now they want to make sure that India join their league.

Forget about "Main Hoo Na".The only reason of existence of Pakistan is enmity with India.This time we finish it for good.

And please somebody stop those pseudo secularists who will cry at the terrorists funerals and will oppose any actions against them.Killing 5 suspected terrorists is better than having to deal with 100 innocent citizen's death.May be these a**h***s think the other way round.


I used to think Iraq was unnecessary.Now I think otherwise.US haven't seen a single terrorists in last 7 years.Ditto for most of the European countries.

Khalistani insurgency was dealt with the same manner.Hard and brutal police action.We lost 1PM,2CM,maybe 1000 "suspected" deaths of terrorists.Now just look at punjab,its the most vibrant region of the country.

Sometimes ,it is necessary to take brutal action against 5 to save a 100.If you think of saving those 5 lives you are going to lost more than 100.You are going to lose your credibility and your honor.

Thats what happened to India,it is now a soft country,where even a convicted terrorist like Afzal Guru can't be hanged because of vote politics.No actions is taken against terrorists in fear of backlash.

Only brutal action can save this country now.And please don't bring human rights in it.First live with the honor of being a human then the rights will come.