La commozione, le emozioni ancora vivide legate al ricordo delle vittime della strage di Mumbai che esattamente un anno fa provoco’ la morte di oltre 170 persone, hanno oggi presto lasciato il posto alle polemiche e alle proteste. L’emozione scaturita dalla parata della polizia che ha aperto la giornata di manifestazioni, seguita da incontri di preghiera interconfessionali e ricordo dei caduti, ha lasciato il posto a numerose polemiche e proteste che hanno riguardato la gente comune, scesa in piazza per partecipare a questo giorno di commemorazioni, ma anche la classe politica. Molte delle famiglie delle vittime degli attentati dello scorso 26 novembre lamentano di non aver ancora ricevuto le somme stanziate a titolo di risarcimento dal Ministero dell’Interno. Secondo fonti ufficiali, dei 107 aventi diritto solo 50 sarebbero stati esaminati e avrebbero ottenuto quanto loro spettante.
Il Ministero dell’Interno indiano ha stanziato 3 lakh (circa seimila euro) di risarcimento per ciascuna delle famiglie delle vittime e 50000 rupie (circa mille euro) per ciascuno dei feriti.
E le questioni relative al risarcimento hanno scatenato le discussioni anche all’interno del parlamento, soprattutto tra il leader dell’opposizione, L K Advani, e il Ministro delle Finanze, Pranab Mukherjee arrivando alla rissa fra i parlamentari.
Advani ha accusato il governo di compiere ”passi lenti” nel dare sollievo e il giusto risarcimento alle famiglie delle vittime, provocando l’ira del Ministro delle Finanze che ha vigorosamente affermato che il partito de BJP (che sta all’opposizione in India) in questo modo strumentalizza la tragedia del 26 novembre scorso per fini politici.
Le manifestazioni di oggi sono state anche segnate dalle proteste per la scarsa sicurezza che avvertono i cittadini, oggi come l’anno scorso. Un ex ufficiale di polizia di Mumbai, Hasan Gafoor, in una intervista ad un settimanale indiano, ha detto che una intera sezione di agenti di polizia si rifiuto’ di recarsi sul luogo degli attentati. Sono poi ancora veementi le polemiche sui ritardi sia dell’intervento della polizia, ma soprattutto di quello delle teste di cuoio, arrivati con oltre 10 ore di ritardo. Molti indiani sono spaventati che un simile attacco possa nuovamente ripetersi in futuro, timore avvalorato da dichiarazioni dei vertici militari e della polizia. Il popolo di Mumbai, insieme anche a tanta altra gente giunta da ogni parte del paese, si e’ riunito dinanzi al Gate of India, il monumento simbolo della citta’ che si trova a pochi passi dall’Hotel Taj )e nei pressi del quale approdo’ il barchino dei dieci assalitori), pregando, piangendo e rendendo omaggio ai caduti. Ma tra loro anche la rabbia e’ apparsa palpabile. ”Vogliamo che Kasab sia impiccato” hanno urlato in molti, invocando cosi’ una punizione esemplare per l’unico terrorista pachistano catturato vivo, al momento sotto processo. ”Proteggono i ministri, i politici, ma alla nostra sicurezza chi ci pensa?” ha detto un altro cittadino. E ci sono state polemiche anche contro la polizia, i cui membri, secondo la popolazione, sono scarsamente addestrati e inidonei a gestire le emergenze. Polemiche anche contro la marcia organizzata dalla polizia, accusata di strumentalizzare l’anniversario per fare bella mostra del suo moderno armamentario. Il tutto, ottenuto grazie ad un nuovo stanziamento per la sicurezza annunciato dal ministro degli interni dello stato del Maharashtra, R.R. Patil. Lo stesso che era in carica durante gli attentati e che si dimise subito dopo, per poi riprendere la sua carica con la nuova amministrazione.

26th November – 2008, Wednesday exactly one year before, I was in office and not at all in mood of working as it was a thanksgiving holiday from Thursday.

At 10:30 AM, one of my friend told me that there is some shoot out happening near Taj in Mumbai, I thought it might be some local gang war, I tried Google news but there was nothing. I called at my home back in India, they were not sure what’s going on.

By 12:30 PM I realized that Mumbai is caught in terrorist attack. Few terrorists came via boat to gateway of India and shooting randomly, took Taj hotel in hostage. I can never forget this day when terrorists shot people with cold blood with eyes full of evil. Mumbai was in their custody for 60 hours, they killed 170 people and more than 300 were wounded. Several brave officers of the Mumbai Police force like Joint Commissioner of Police, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Hemant Karkare, Police Inspector, Anti Extortion Cell, Vijay Salaskar and Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte fell prey to the bullets.

The National Security Guards (NSG) and Marine Commandos, summoned to bring the situation under control, also lost its two personnel, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Commando Gajendra Singh.

I just want to request all politicians that terrorist’s bullets never asks a person’s identity or he speaks a particular language or he is from particular state before hitting him. Instead of blaming each other for the language we speak or where we live. We should learn a lesson from 26/11, invest in cutting edge technologies, be prepared, be alert all the time.

On this solemn day, I am saluting all the martyrs and victims of this horrible day in history of Mumbai.

Peace…

On this day, my deepest condolences to all the victims of islamic jihad in Mumbay!

Mumbai 2006

Homage for Mumbai victims, support for India from world over

Homage for the victims and words of support for India’s battle against terrorism poured in from across the world as the first anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks was observed on Thursday.

Paying tribute to victims of the deadly terror strikes that left 166 people dead, Australian Defence Minister John Faulkner said such attacks were a reminder that the threat of terrorism continued and there is need for constant vigilance.

“Australia was deeply shocked and appalled by the deadly and horrific attacks. Today, as we remember the victims we need to remind ourselves that the threat of international terrorism continues. We must remain vigilant and work together to defeat terrorism in all its forms,” he said.

Hundreds of Indians along with Australians and people of other nationalities joined a candlelight vigil at the Federation Square in Melbourne to remember the victims.

This post is in response to some comments I received on the post I wrote on the Mumbai Terror Attacks yesterday. The comments seemed to express a thought that there is no hope, that India is India, that India will never improve, that nothing will never improve. I don’t go by this. And I just want to jot down a few changes that have taken place in the past year which I hope will help India become more secure. Sure a lot of things have not improved, but here I am listing the things which have.

1) We have a new Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram, and he has brought in a lot of changes and new initiatives. As this news article says:

Fully utilizing the free hand, Chidambaram has helped in creating a feeling of urgency among various security agencies, intelligence agencies, state police and paramilitary forces, besides resorting to certain legislative actions like strengthening the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act and creation of the National Investigative Agency.

I believe this because I have been following Chidambaram’s moves, and he is far better than his predecessor Patil.
A lot of initiatives of his have been listed in the article, like acquiring of weapons, improvements in the law and order situation in Kashmir, increased efficacy of the intelligence agencies.  There is more cooperation between US Intelligence, the FBI and India.
2) Force One, Maharashtra’s “elite security force designed on the lines of the National Security Guard (NSG)” has been commissioned a few days ago.
3) Arms purchase has increased in India. Not just in Maharashtra but by the central government, and the Army too.
4) The Navy is also beefing up on infrastructure to protect India from the sea. From aircraft to boats, to the numerical strength of personnel is all being increased.
5) Vacancies in the Maharashtra police, which were at 230,567 on January 1, 2008 are now down to less than 150,000. The central government has ordered that this deficit be brought down further, and infact brought down to zero by March 2010.
6) A 20 per cent increase in the budget for Coast Guard vessels. Manpower is also being increased.
7) The Maharashtra government has set aside Rs 150 Crore to buy speed boats this last June.
8] The government has opened four NSG hubs in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai, each having a strength of 241 personnel.
9) NSG will now be better mobilized:

That time lag of Nov 26, 2008 when the National Security Guards (NSG) took about five hours to take up position to combat India’s worst terror attack will never be repeated, promises chief of the elite commando force N.P.S. Aulakh. “We lost time during the Mumbai serial attacks. But things have changed and now we can take up any challenge within just 30 minutes of notice and that too anywhere,’ NSG Director General N.P.S. Aulakh told IANS in an exhaustive interview.

For more details you can check the link.
10) I also think that our media could have learnt a few lessons, although I am not sure about it.

This is not an exhaustive list. Just a few points which tell us that our government is doing something. Its not as if nothing has happened after 26/11/2008. Things have happened, some things have been planned, and more will be done. Things cannot change overnight that is for sure but I think there has been an improvement, as the facts show. One hopes that there is better preparedness next time.

Anche film, libri, mostre d’arte e fumetti nel primo anniversario degli attentati di Mumbai. Gia’ poche ore dopo la liberazione degli ostaggi nel Taj Mahal hotel da parte delle teste di cuoio indiane, un famoso regista di Bollywood, Gopal Varma, fece un sopralluogo nell’albergo, accompagnato dal primo ministro di allora dello stato, per riprendere le location per un film sugli attentati. La cosa indigno’ gli indiani tanto da convincere il primo ministro del Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmuk, a dimettersi e a Varma di abbandonare l’idea del film. Cosa che pero’ non e’ avvenuto per altri registi. Una serie di film sono in uscita in India, tutti coll’unico filo conduttore del sentimento di unita’ del paese, della vittoria sui terroristi pachistani, con esplosioni, sangue e corpi straziati in bella vista. Il richiamo di Bollywood non poteva non essere raccolto dagli altri media che stanno avendo sempre piu’ successo nel paese. E’ ad esempio il caso di ”Operation Mumbai”, un gioco on line nel quale il giocatore deve uccidere, in un tempo determinato, i terroristi. Libri e opere d’arte sono in esplosione a Mumbai e in altre citta’ indiane, mentre e’ stato da poco diffuso anche un fumetto, intitolato ‘26/11′, nel quale 15 terroristi entrano via mare ed un super eroe, Doga, viene preso dai terroristi e poi liberato dalle forze speciali della polizia. In un altro fumetto, ‘Halla Bol’, il super eroe Nagraj entra nello stato vicino ‘Ghuspetistaan’ per distruggere i campi terroristi dopo che questi hanno attaccato i luoghi di Mumbai, che nel fumetto conservano i loro nomi originali. Entrambi i fumetti, venduti a poco meno di un euro, sono andati a ruba ed hanno esaurito le copie stampate, tanto che gli editori stanno pensando di metterli a disposizione su internet o attraverso i cellulari.

Fu un terrorista pachistano ad effettuare, dalla cella di massima sicurezza del carcere pachistano di Hyderabad nel quale era rinchiuso, la telefonata al presidente pachistano Zardari, spacciandosi per il ministro degli esteri indiano Mukherjee, all’indomani degli attacchi di Mumbai, facendo temere per qualche ora lo scoppio della quarta guerra fra i due paesi (se si esclude quella non dichiarata del 1998). Lo riferisce oggi il quotidiano pachistano Dawn. Omar Saeed Sheikh, ritenuto uno dei piu’ importanti terroristi pachistani, in carcere tra l’altro per il rapimento e l’omicidio del giornalista del Wall Street Journal Daniel Pearl, secondo il giornale pachistano, in carcere, nonostante si trovasse in isolamento, riusciva a ricevere telefonate dalla moglie su un cellulare che aveva nascosto. La scheda Sim era una scheda inglese, cosa che avvalora quanto ha scritto nella sua biografia l’ex presidente Pervez Musharraf, secondo il quale Saeed era un servizio del MI6, il servizio segreto inglese. Sul quel telefono cellulare, il terrorista fu informato dalla moglie dei fatti di Mumbai, ricevendo continui aggiornamenti. Venerdi’ 28 novembre, a due giorni dall’inizio degli attacchi terroristici a Mumbai, nelle stesse ore in cui i gruppi speciali indiani liberavano gli ultimi ostaggi negli alberghi della citta’, nella residenza ufficiale del presidente pachistano Asif Ali Zardari squillo’ il telefono riservato: dall’altra parte Saeed, spacciandosi per il ministro degli esteri indiano, Pranab Mukherjee, accusava il Pakistan di aver aiutato i terroristi, annunciando di star spostando le truppe verso il confine pachistano e ingiungendo a Islamabad di prendere provvedimenti contro i fondamentalisti islamici. Zardari richiamo’ a Islamabad il primo ministro Yusuf Raza Gilani che era a Lahore, un aereo militare parti’ alla volta di New Delhi per riportare a casa il ministro degli esteri Shah Mahmud Qureshi che sarebbe dovuto ritornare il giorno dopo con un volo di linea. Il capo di stato maggiore dell’esercito viene avvisato di mettere in stato di massima allerta le truppe, e di cominciare a spostare battaglioni dal confine afghano a quello indiano. Furono 24 ore di intense telefonate, di contatti diplomatici tra Islamabad, New Delhi e Washington. Lo stesso pseudo ministro degli esteri indiano autore del falso telefonico con Zardari avrebbe provato a chiamare anche il segretario di stato americano Condoleezza Rice, ma i servizi americani non hanno passato la telefonata. La Rice invece parlo’ con Zardari e poi con Mukherjee, che smenti’. Saed e’ stato trasferito nel carcere di Lahore e il responsabile del carcere di Hyderabad, dopo che una perquisizione approfondita ha fatto rinvenire telefoni cellulari e schede nella cella di Saed, e’ stato trasferito.

E’ cominciata con una parata della polizia di Mumbai la giornata di manifestazioni in occasioni del primo anniversario degli attentati di Mumbai che il 26 novembre dell’anno scorso videro 10 terroristi pachistani tenere in ostaggio per oltre 60 ore la capitale economica dell’India facendo oltre 170 vittime. La polizia dell’ex Mumbai, insieme ai reparti speciali e con mezzi di assalto, ha sfilato da Nariman point, nei pressi del Gate of India dinanzi all’hotel Taj che fu preso dagli assalitori, fino a Chowpatty, la spiaggia piu’ famosa di Mumbai. Nella parata, anche dimostrazioni di azioni antiterroristiche da parte del Force One, il corpo speciale della polizia che mise fine all’assedio. Molta gente ha assistito alla parata e ha visitato i luoghi simbolo dell’assedio, come il Leopold Cafe, il Cama Hospital, l’hotel Oberoi Trident, la stazione ferroviaria Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, l’hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, e la Nariman House. La parata della polizia e’ solo la prima di una serie di manifestazioni che commemorano il primo anniversario degli attentati di Mumbai. Il ministro degli interni indiano Palanippam Chidambaran inaugurera’ un memoriale per le vittime della polizia alla sede centrale degli agenti di Mumbai, mentre una manifestazione religiosa e’ prevista al Gato of India, il monumento dinanzi al Taj Mahal Hotel. Anche il centro ebraico, che fu assaltato dagli attentatori, cosi’ come gli altri luoghi degli attentati, sara’ al centro di manifestazioni. Da stamattina sono stati illuminati diversi lumini sulle finestre del centro e deposti fiori. Una cerimonia religiosa e’ prevista in giornata. Altri cortei e marce silenziose sono annunciate in ogni parte di Mumbai e anche nelle altre grandi citta’ indiane, soprattutto come segno di protesta al terrorismo. Ma la ricorrenza non e’ scevra da polemiche. Un ex ufficiale di polizia di Mumbai, Hasan Gafoor, in una intervista ad un settimanale indiano, ha detto che una intera sezione di agenti di polizia si rifiuto’ di recarsi sul luogo degli attentati. Sono ancora veementi le polemiche sui ritardi sia dell’intervento della polizia, ma soprattutto di quello delle teste di cuoio, arrivati con oltre 10 ore di ritardo. Il ministro degli interni dello stato del Maharashtra, R.R. Patil, ha annunciato un ulteriore stanziamento per la sicurezza dello stato. Oltre il 70% dei parenti delle vittime degli attentati di Mumbai, ancora devono ricevere i risarcimenti promessi. All’indomani degli attentati, le polemiche per la scarsa sicurezza portarono alle dimissioni del ministro dell’interno dell’India, Shivraj Patil, e del suo omonimo ministro degli interni dello stato del Maharashtra R.R.Patil. Anche il primo ministro dello stato di allora, Vilasrao Deshmuk, si dimise, perche’ si reco’ al Taj insieme ad un regista. Oggi, Deshmuk e’ ministro dell’industria nel governo centrale e R.R. Patil e’ di nuovo ministro degli interni del Maharashtra.

Special – What you may never find in your mainstream news sources . . . A Country of 1Billion Impotents? Even Viagra Seems To Have Failed. Will They Die a Shameful Death As Cowards? Every child in India knows that Ajmal Kasab will never be hanged by the Con – gress NCP govt, as for that matter even Afzal Guru will never be. Since 1993 Mumbai serial terrorist attacks till today thousands have been killed, I ask what has the govt done apart from threatening to attack Pakistan and sending them dossier after dossier. Is there something this government is scared of ? I do not understand as to why does the Congress party of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as well as the NCP party of Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel feel that the Muslims of India will feel bad if the two scums on earth are hanged to death. Infact the regular Muslims of India should in a strong voice demand this govt to hang these two symbols of fanaticism, which has irreparably damaged the name of their religion Islam. Nothing at all has been achieved by the Congress govt to book the terrorists. Right since the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai to the 26/11/2008 Mumbai massacres, this govt has only raved and ranted like a dog that barks but never bites. Just yesterday with anger and hurt simmering inside him the father of Sandeep Unikrishnan said to TOI that “Why are they keeping him alive, he should be hanged on a lamp post” he insists that hanging the Ajmal Kasab is not about revenge but sending a warning to the terrorists. The irony of India is that while the criminals and terrorists get the best of facilities our security forces are treated worst than sheep and goats. Recently it was brought to light by the media that our soldiers who have been assigned to safeguard the Taj Hotel were shockingly sleeping on the roads, even washing their uniforms and clothes on the sidewalk near the gateway of India. This is how this govt treats our soldiers. These very ministers expect our soldiers and police to take the bullets on their chests and get killed so that these ministers can romp about in their helicopters and air-conditioned swanky cars, sleep in their plush flats and bungalows. By all accounts, they are least bothered about the sorry plight of our security forces. I am afraid the day is not far when the armed forces of India would be forced to contemplate, introspect and evaluate the worthiness in sacrificing their lives for a country which is not only ungrateful but also does not value the most supreme sacrifice. The people of this country are very busy playing the stock markets, investing in real estate, discussing the latest model of a four-wheeler or watching one of those reality & dance shows on television. The majority are struggling to make two ends meet to feed, clothe and educate their children and family. The one billion populace of India have just no time to even think about the dangers lurking just round the corner or right in their alley. I suppose that’s the way our Con govt likes it, it serves their purpose. The Con govt has cleverly devised a dual policy to hoodwink the people of this country. On one hand, the home ministry threatens Pakistan with retaliation in the event of another terrorist attack on India; on the other, the foreign ministry seeks a long time friendship with Pakistan. Is it any wonder that the whole wide world is laughing at us, even Nepal does not take us seriously. LETS FACE IT WE ARE A COUNTRY OF MORE THAN ONE BILLION IMPOTENTS AND NOT EVEN A THOUSAND TRUCK LOADS OF VIAGRA WILL HELP US – Till the time we ourselves unite and attempt to protect our family and business. The people of this country have to stop expecting this govt to provide us security and the right to live safely. The need of the hour is that each Indian has to become a Bhagat Singh, a Chandrasekhar Azad, and a Shivaji. There is no point in wailing like a puppy. What will Barrack Hussein Obama or America do for India? Nothing can be more shameful than asking your friend to defend you wife or daughter who is about to be raped by the goons. One has to be man enough to stand up and fight the atrocities yourself. Whoever says that these terrorist attacks are the acts of cowards cannot be more wrong. Let us not be fooled by the politicians and ‘SICKULARISTS’ – THE FACT IS TERRORIST ACTS ARE BRAVE ACTS, GETTING KILLED LIKE SITTING DUCKS IS COWARDLY. I appreciate that people have started to make music videos and write poems on the dark episode of 26/11 but it would have been better if these people could educate the masses about the perils in being passive and how the CON – NCP govt is taking us for a ride on all fronts. However, more dangerous than the terrorists are the ‘SICKULARISTS’ and some of the ‘POLITICIANS IN POWER’ who are said to be indirectly helping the cause of the underworld gangs inimical to India. As long as these threats from some ministers is not eliminated I am afraid the I B, RAW and Police will only be discouraged to do their optimum and may just give up in the days to come, if they have not already. Worst is a former IPS officer SM Mushrif in his book has defamed and falsely leveled accusations against our Research And Analysis wing as also against the Intelligence Bureau blaming them for Karkares death. This author says that the Mumbai massacre is a conspiracy hatched by the RAW and IB. By all accounts this guy seems to be working on the lines of AL Qaeda, ISI and Taliban, just as they had promoted and propagated a theory that 9/11 was an act committed by the CIA and Mossad to defame the Muslims. The fact is that many terrorist Special – What you may never find in your mainstream news sources . . . A Country of 1Billion Impotents? Even Viagra Seems To Have Failed. Will They Die a Shameful Death As Cowards? Every child in India knows that Ajmal Kasab will never be hanged by the Con – gress NCP govt, as for that matter even Afzal Guru will never be. Since 1993 Mumbai serial terrorist attacks till today thousands have been killed, I ask what has the govt done apart from threatening to attack Pakistan and sending them dossier after dossier. Is there something this government is scared of ? I do not understand as to why does the Congress party of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as well as the NCP party of Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel feel that the Muslims of India will feel bad if the two scums on earth are hanged to death. Infact the regular Muslims of India should in a strong voice demand this govt to hang these two symbols of fanaticism, which has irreparably damaged the name of their religion Islam. Nothing at all has been achieved by the Congress govt to book the terrorists. Right since the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai to the 26/11/2008 Mumbai massacres, this govt has only raved and ranted like a dog that barks but never bites. Just yesterday with anger and hurt simmering inside him the father of Sandeep Unikrishnan said to TOI that “Why are they keeping him alive, he should be hanged on a lamp post” he insists that hanging the Ajmal Kasab is not about revenge but sending a warning to the terrorists. The irony of India is that while the criminals and terrorists get the best of facilities our security forces are treated worst than sheep and goats. Recently it was brought to light by the media that our soldiers who have been assigned to safeguard the Taj Hotel were shockingly sleeping on the roads, even washing their uniforms and clothes on the sidewalk near the gateway of India. This is how this govt treats our soldiers. These very ministers expect our soldiers and police to take the bullets on their chests and get killed so that these ministers can romp about in their helicopters and air-conditioned swanky cars, sleep in their plush flats and bungalows. By all accounts, they are least bothered about the sorry plight of our security forces. I am afraid the day is not far when the armed forces of India would be forced to contemplate, introspect and evaluate the worthiness in sacrificing their lives for a country which is not only ungrateful but also does not value the most supreme sacrifice. The people of this country are very busy playing the stock markets, investing in real estate, discussing the latest model of a four-wheeler or watching one of those reality & dance shows on television. The majority are struggling to make two ends meet to feed, clothe and educate their children and family. The one billion populace of India have just no time to even think about the dangers lurking just round the corner or right in their alley. I suppose that’s the way our Con govt likes it, it serves their purpose. The Con govt has cleverly devised a dual policy to hoodwink the people of this country. On one hand, the home ministry threatens Pakistan with retaliation in the event of another terrorist attack on India; on the other, the foreign ministry seeks a long time friendship with Pakistan. Is it any wonder that the whole wide world is laughing at us, even Nepal does not take us seriously. LETS FACE IT WE ARE A COUNTRY OF MORE THAN ONE BILLION IMPOTENTS AND NOT EVEN A THOUSAND TRUCK LOADS OF VIAGRA WILL HELP US – Till the time we ourselves unite and attempt to protect our family and business. The people of this country have to stop expecting this govt to provide us security and the right to live safely. The need of the hour is that each Indian has to become a Bhagat Singh, a Chandrasekhar Azad, and a Shivaji. There is no point in wailing like a puppy. What will Barrack Hussein Obama or America do for India? Nothing can be more shameful than asking your friend to defend you wife or daughter who is about to be raped by the goons. One has to be man enough to stand up and fight the atrocities yourself. Whoever says that these terrorist attacks are the acts of cowards cannot be more wrong. Let us not be fooled by the politicians and ‘SICKULARISTS’ – THE FACT IS TERRORIST ACTS ARE BRAVE ACTS, GETTING KILLED LIKE SITTING DUCKS IS COWARDLY. I appreciate that people have started to make music videos and write poems on the dark episode of 26/11 but it would have been better if these people could educate the masses about the perils in being passive and how the CON – NCP govt is taking us for a ride on all fronts. However, more dangerous than the terrorists are the ‘SICKULARISTS’ and some of the ‘POLITICIANS IN POWER’ who are said to be indirectly helping the cause of the underworld gangs inimical to India. As long as these threats from some ministers is not eliminated I am afraid the I B, RAW and Police will only be discouraged to do their optimum and may just give up in the days to come, if they have not already. Worst is a former IPS officer SM Mushrif in his book has defamed and falsely leveled accusations against our Research And Analysis wing as also against the Intelligence Bureau blaming them for Karkares death. This author says that the Mumbai massacre is a conspiracy hatched by the RAW and IB. By all accounts this guy seems to be working on the lines of AL Qaeda, ISI and Taliban, just as they had promoted and propagated a theory that 9/11 was an act committed by the CIA and Mossad to defame the Muslims. The fact is that many terrorist attacks have been foiled in the last one year alone because of timely information by the I B and RAW. The enemies of the nation within could turn out to be a huge threat in the coming days. There is a huge question mark on the Maharashtra govt. . . . 1- How and why did Hemant Karkare’s bulletproof jacket go missing? 2- Ajmal Kasab is on record stating that they were 15 of them, who came from Pakistan, so where have the other five disappeared? Are they still in India? If yes who is sheltering them? 3- Sebastian D Souza the photographer who clicked the first pictures of Kasab says, “For one hour there was no sign of the Mumbai police, I hate the picture of Kasab I took as he is a killer. I am angry” The anger against this govt is so much that Karkares widow Kavita and Vijay Salaskars widow Smita went to Delhi to meet the Queen Sonia Maino Gandhi earnestly requesting her to get Ajmal Kasab hanged immediately. And all that Soniaji said was ‘I can relate to your tragedy as even I have gone through it.’ Needless to add both the brave widows must have come back dejected. I guess people know who is running the country by remote. Another slain police officer’s widow Vinita Kamte, wife of slain ACP Ashok Kamte has questioned the Maharashtra state machinery on 26/11 in her book ‘To The Last Bullet’. Clearly, there is something drastically wrong in the Indian political apparatus. The pain of 26/11 is so much that Amitabh Bachchan today recited a poem written by Prasoon Joshi “Is Baar Nahi.” The message is clear that the masses and classes have come together and want to see India stand up like a true red-blooded virile man and crush this terror once and for all in a fight to the finish. Its ‘EITHER US OR THEM’. Shobha De is disgusted that disgraced politicians like RR Patil, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Shivraj Patil are back in responsible jobs. She says ‘There is a conspiracy to suppress the truth. We need to give a deadline to Delhi’. Clearly implicating the dynastic Gandhi family trio. DON’T LIGHT A CANDLE – LIGHT A MATCH STICK AND BURN THE WHOLE CITADEL DOWN. The anniversary of 26/11 saw no Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh or Sharad Pawar at Mumbai to pay homage to the victims of the terrorist massacre. Need I say anything more? It is a shame that the Prime Minister of India is so spineless that he repeatedly pleads with the Pakis to please abhore terrorism and come for friendly talks. In the same breath he proclaims ‘We shall not allow the blood of the Martyrs go waste’. Does anybody in the country believe him? It is said that wisdom dawns in with age. India is more than 63 years old and Manmohan Singh is more than 70 years, when will you grow up Manmohan? Terrorism and violence is in their blood. The problem with India is that we refuse to learn from history. Today we are at war right inside our country, on our streets, inside our offices, restaurants, pubs, malls, gymnasiums. Radical Islam has taken deep roots in the Muslim society, hence today’s terrorists are well educated, English speaking men and women, sometimes even coming from affluent families. They could be wearing branded clothes like Poison jeans, Armani suits and Gucci shoes. That warm and friendly guy seated next to you could be a Daood Gilani alias David Headley, that pleasant voice at the call center could be in reality a Ajmal Kasab but with a Hindu name. The jihadis are in our cities lurking in the shadows, discreetly set up in decent jobs, swanky apartments, only to strike at the right time. Patience, surprise and deceit are just another of their virtues. How do we fight this virus of terrorism and win the war? WHAT IS THE ANTI DOTE TO SNAKE BITE? The doctor to save a life administers a much higher dose of snake venom inside the body of the victim. We have to find and administer an antidote to terror not just to the terrorists. Do kill the terrorists but just killing them will not help. The origin of terror has to be eliminated. What and who will eliminate this terror? Will The Americans do it ? The Indian politicians will never attempt to do it, the police are incapable of it and too corrupt to even think of it, the security agencies are not authorized to. So who will eradicate this disease which has spread all over the country. Give it some time and think about it, the physical and psychological safety of your family depends on it. Alternatively, Should I ask for a strong anti dotes to impotency, as Viagra does not seem to be working on the one billion impotent Indians? JUST GETTING MARRIED, COPULATING WITH YOUR WIFE AND MAKING BABIES DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR MANHOOD, EVEN THE RATS DO THAT. Varon B K Sharma Author of the fiction “Assassination Of George Bush” www.varonbksharma.com ‘Assassination Of George Bush’ was the first book in the world dedicated to the innocent citizens of India, America, Japan, Britain, Israel, Germany, Canada and Australia who were killed in the terrorist attacks on 26/11/2008 in Mumbai, India. A Salute To The Brave Martyrs Sandeep Unikrishnan Gajendra Singh Bhist And Tukaram Omble www.varonbksharma.com have been foiled in the last one year alone because of timely information by the I B and RAW. The enemies of the nation within could turn out to be a huge threat in the coming days. There is a huge question mark on the Maharashtra govt. . . . 1- How and why did Hemant Karkare’s bulletproof jacket go missing? 2- Ajmal Kasab is on record stating that they were 15 of them, who came from Pakistan, so where have the other five disappeared? Are they still in India? If yes who is sheltering them? 3- Sebastian D Souza the photographer who clicked the first pictures of Kasab says, “For one hour there was no sign of the Mumbai police, I hate the picture of Kasab I took as he is a killer. I am angry” The anger against this govt is so much that Karkares widow Kavita and Vijay Salaskars widow Smita went to Delhi to meet the Queen Sonia Maino Gandhi earnestly requesting her to get Ajmal Kasab hanged immediately. And all that Soniaji said was ‘I can relate to your tragedy as even I have gone through it.’ Needless to add both the brave widows must have come back dejected. I guess people know who is running the country by remote. Another slain police officer’s widow Vinita Kamte, wife of slain ACP Ashok Kamte has questioned the Maharashtra state machinery on 26/11 in her book ‘To The Last Bullet’. Clearly, there is something drastically wrong in the Indian political apparatus. The pain of 26/11 is so much that Amitabh Bachchan today recited a poem written by Prasoon Joshi “Is Baar Nahi.” The message is clear that the masses and classes have come together and want to see India stand up like a true red-blooded virile man and crush this terror once and for all in a fight to the finish. Its ‘EITHER US OR THEM’. Shobha De is disgusted that disgraced politicians like RR Patil, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Shivraj Patil are back in responsible jobs. She says ‘There is a conspiracy to suppress the truth. We need to give a deadline to Delhi’. Clearly implicating the dynastic Gandhi family trio. DON’T LIGHT A CANDLE – LIGHT A MATCH STICK AND BURN THE WHOLE CITADEL DOWN. The anniversary of 26/11 saw no Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh or Sharad Pawar at Mumbai to pay homage to the victims of the terrorist massacre. Need I say anything more? It is a shame that the Prime Minister of India is so spineless that he repeatedly pleads with the Pakis to please abhore terrorism and come for friendly talks. In the same breath he proclaims ‘We shall not allow the blood of the Martyrs go waste’. Does anybody in the country believe him? It is said that wisdom dawns in with age. India is more than 63 years old and Manmohan Singh is more than 70 years, when will you grow up Manmohan? Terrorism and violence is in their blood. The problem with India is that we refuse to learn from history. Today we are at war right inside our country, on our streets, inside our offices, restaurants, pubs, malls, gymnasiums. Radical Islam has taken deep roots in the Muslim society, hence today’s terrorists are well educated, English speaking men and women, sometimes even coming from affluent families. They could be wearing branded clothes like Poison jeans, Armani suits and Gucci shoes. That warm and friendly guy seated next to you could be a Daood Gilani alias David Headley, that pleasant voice at the call center could be in reality a Ajmal Kasab but with a Hindu name. The jihadis are in our cities lurking in the shadows, discreetly set up in decent jobs, swanky apartments, only to strike at the right time. Patience, surprise and deceit are just another of their virtues. How do we fight this virus of terrorism and win the war? WHAT IS THE ANTI DOTE TO SNAKE BITE? The doctor to save a life administers a much higher dose of snake venom inside the body of the victim. We have to find and administer an antidote to terror not just to the terrorists. Do kill the terrorists but just killing them will not help. The origin of terror has to be eliminated. What and who will eliminate this terror? Will The Americans do it ? The Indian politicians will never attempt to do it, the police are incapable of it and too corrupt to even think of it, the security agencies are not authorized to. So who will eradicate this disease which has spread all over the country. Give it some time and think about it, the physical and psychological safety of your family depends on it. Alternatively, Should I ask for a strong anti dotes to impotency, as Viagra does not seem to be working on the one billion impotent Indians? JUST GETTING MARRIED, COPULATING WITH YOUR WIFE AND MAKING BABIES DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR MANHOOD, EVEN THE RATS DO THAT. Varon B K Sharma Author of the fiction “Assassination Of George Bush” www.varonbksharma.com ‘Assassination Of George Bush’ was the first book in the world dedicated to the innocent citizens of India, America, Japan, Britain, Israel, Germany, Canada and Australia who were killed in the terrorist attacks on 26/11/2008 in Mumbai, India. A Salute To The Brave Martyrs Sandeep Unikrishnan Gajendra Singh Bhist And Tukaram Omble www.varonbksharma.com

India and Pakistan

Pakistan charges seven over the Mumbai terrorist attack. Ties with India may improve

ALMOST a year to the day after a spectacular three-day assault by Pakistani terrorists on the Indian city of Mumbai, in which at least 170 people were killed, a court in Pakistan has charged seven men with organising it. The announcement of the prosecution on Wednesday November 25th appears to represent a hopeful step in relations between Pakistan and its old rival India. India withdrew from a promising four-year diplomatic peace process after the Mumbai attack and, in July, its prime minister, Manmohan Singh, reiterated that talks would not restart until suspects within Pakistan were brought to justice.

Thus the trial is an important test of Pakistan’s promises to punish those thought to be responsible for the carnage of November 26th 2008 (dubbed as “26/11” in India). The arrested men have all, reportedly, pleaded not guilty. They are accused of training and equipping the heavily armed gunmen who opened fire in Mumbai at the swanky Taj hotel, a train station, a hospital, a Jewish centre and a café popular with foreigners. Those charged include Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the plot. Nine others have been charged in absentia.

India and America want to see evidence that Pakistan is serious about the prosecution. According to officials in Pakistan, the seven men charged this week were linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), a Pakistan-based extremist group that has claimed responsibility for attacks in Indian Kashmir and for bombings elsewhere in India in recent years. The group is thought to have built a network of sleeper cells in India, working with disaffected Indian Muslims who call themselves the Indian Mujahideen. Indian police have said that LET trained 30 militants for more than a year, in three or four camps in Pakistan, for the seaborne assault on Mumbai attack. But they say that only ten, all Pakistani, were used in the end.

LET is an especially important target for India, but Pakistan is not entirely committed to eradicating the group. Many believe that the outfit, which is thought only to launch attacks outside of Pakistan, remains closely linked to the army and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Agency. The ISI denies supporting the group, though it did foster it early on.

Those within Pakistan who are loyal to the extremist group believe that, in the event of a war with India, it could offer a useful means of defence. In addition the government in Islamabad might be reluctant to take on new enemies as it battles the Pakistani Taliban in South Waziristan.

Outsiders who are critical of Pakistan, however, point to evidence that the government has long been half-hearted in taking on LET. Its founder, Hafiz Saeed, was briefly arrested last year, but was then freed because of a lack of evidence. Similarly, dozens of members of the organisation have been detained, only to be released soon afterwards. Indian officials grumble that LET has planned other assaults since the 26/11 attacks and that Pakistan’s government is pursuing a selective campaign against terrorists. They point to Mr Saeed’s long history of preaching jihad against India, even suggesting that he might have masterminded the Mumbai killings. Mr Saeed denies any involvement.

__________

Full article and photo: http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14955538&source=features_box2

One year after ten Pakistani gunmen attacked India’s financial capital, many say they still feel vulnerable… From VOA. Full story

This site may contain information about: recession or not. The blog is also related to: countries in recession.

It’s exactly a year on since India witnessed it’s bloodiest terror attack in the heart of India’s financial capital, city of Mumbai. As a spirited Indian and ex Mumbaikar,  my heart goes out for those who lost their lives in the attack. Mumbai saw some emotional remembering and memorial services today. I also kept myself in isolation for few minutes and prayed for the victims and better tomorrow for fellow Indians.

But year on, i was just thinking what was good / bad things emerged out of the Mumbai siege. Well here it is :

Good things that emerged :

1) 26/11 gave a very rude shock to the authority who had taken a very laid back kind of approach towards the terrorism.

2) When rich and influential people of nation were hit, emotions ran high and it united the whole Mumbai (no matter for short time only). The show of strength by aam aadmi at the Gateway of India was indeed a very strong reaction.

3) Thick skinned CM and Home minister had to see the door thanks to the anger of the people and had to resign.

4) During the whole episode, Indian government didn’t blink and didn’t negotiate with the terrorist even though international community might have pressurized. I appreciate the toughness shown by Indian government.

5) After the siege, Authorities went into the huddle and formed the Force 1 to protect the Mumbai. Today, Force 1 even paraded in the streets of Mumbai in a show of strength and send a strong message to enemies that we are prepared. At least this should give aam aadmi some what confidence about their safety and well being.

Bad/Ugly things that emerged :

1) Even though we have full knowledge about the conspirators behind the attack and have fool proof evidences still we haven’t managed to get a single prosecution so far. We keep begging at the doorsteps of western countries to pressurize our beloved neighbour to take legal action against conspirators. This is the last thing sovereign nation like India should do.

2) Still we are hoping that sense will prevail with our beloved neighbour Pakistan and we keep holding peace talks with them. It’s rubbish and sheer waste of time and resources.

3) The lone live captured terrorist Ajmal aamer kasab, is still relishing biryani every day in the jail and every day Indian authority is spending lakhs of rupees to protect that bloody. I don’t understand what prevents government in setting up a fast track court to conclude the case and serve justice to that insane, inhuman fellow. (According to me. the best justice that can be done to kasab is, he should be brought into the public and relatives of the victims who lost their lives in the attack should be allowed to stone him to death. Even after stoning him, he doesn’t die than he should be hanged in public. And yes, there can’t be any appropriate moment to do this other than today.)

4) The people who were villains a year ago are back as hero again. Vilasrao dekshmukh has been honoured with the cabinet rank minister at centre. While, that insane fellow, R R Patil, is back as home minister. Well, this is the worst thing about the democracy, I feel. Most amusing thing for me is no one is opposing such moves like nothing has happened in past.

5) Still no strong actions has been taken to strengthen the intelligence network. We always have information that attack can takes place but no concrete information when and where the strike will occur. Recent arrest of Headley and Rana in USA, shows the failure of our system.

So these are just my thoughts. Before, I put an end to this post, I would like to salute those brave hearts who fought the terrorists in best of their capacities and even sacrificed their lives for the safety of fellow Indians. Just want to say one thing to those brave hearts, we Indians owe lot to you.

Finally, VANDE MATARTAM. Jai Hind.

P.S. : Some of the posts written by me related to mumbai terror attack

http://krunalc.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/સરદારજી-હવે-તો-જાગો/

http://krunalc.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/હલ્લા-બોલ/ 

http://krunalc.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/moshe/ 

http://krunalc.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/terror-in-mumbai/

On the 1st Anniversay of 26/11 of Mumbai terror attack, we salute to those brave hearts who laid their lives on this fateful day.

In the aftermath of the massacre in CST, Mumbai

One year back, almost to the hour, we began to hear stray rumours of shoot outs in Colaba; rumours that quickly gelled into reports of a terrorist attack like nothing seen before. Before we went to sleep we saw the dome of Taj burning, Karkare and Salaskar were known to be dead, and a large number of travellers in CST had been murdered. One year on, here is what people have to say.

ET notes:

So far at least 10 books have been published related to the Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people died during a bloody three-day rampage by 10 Islamist gunmen.

One of the books, “Warzone Mumbai,” by novelist Mrityunjay Bose, recalls the horror experienced by those caught up in events last year.

Another is called “Mumbai under Siege,” written by Indian television journalist Nikhil Dixit and providing a minute-by-minute account of how the assault unfolded.

The 10 heavily armed militants stormed two luxury hotels, a tourist restaurant, a Jewish centre and a railway station last November.

Soon after the attack, scriptwriters, directors and producers rushed to register over 30 projects with the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association, assigning them titles like “The Taj Encounter” and “Taj Terror.”

One movie “Total 10,” focusing on the lone gunman captured during the attacks, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, is set to hit movie screens soon while a number are in production.

Today there were memorial services in many places in the city. Apart from these, media also covered the changes over the last year. ZeeNews has an opinion on ten changes for the better, and ten neglected areas; but these views seem to be copied from the Home Minister’s briefing:

So what have been these ‘fix it’ solutions…

First, the National Investigation Agency has been created and Unlawful Activities Act strengthened. The NIA is the nodal around which all agencies have begun working, specifically in terror related cases.

Second, and perhaps the most important has been the improved information sharing between intelligence agencies at the HQ level. Chidambaram has put a daily joint meeting with intelligence chiefs as a mandatory fixture in his schedule. There is also a better middle-level contact between spy units, so that a lead gathered by one is followed by another.
…
What remains to be done…

Despite all these measures, there are still some chinks in our security armour, a fact which even Chidambaram admits to.
…
Third, other areas that remain unattended are the tardy police forces, which don’t even have basic guns leave alone automated weaponry, which they have to face in case of a terror attack. They also require some serious professional training to deal with terror situations besides the basic maintenance of general law and order.

Fourth, police forces and security agencies are also handicapped due of outdated infrastructure. We are unable to acquire sophisticated weapons, new vehicles and other equipment, as procurement is terribly slow and continues to be tied down in red tape.

Financial Express takes a very clear-eyed view:

However, an year down the line, the army’s and police wish list remains far from fulfilled, for the necessary reconnaissance and surveillance equipment, that would keep the country alert towards another such terror attack.

Even the establishment of a maritime cum coastal security set up, possibly from the Indian Navy, to provide India’s vulnerable coastal areas a security template to prevent future attacks coming in from the sea, is yet to be implemented intotality. The story in terms of technology acquisitions is an equally dismal one too. Indian defence purchases are projected to double to more than $40 billion by 2012; and then to around $80 million a decade later. But little of that is likely to go towards internal security, an area that requires immediate attention. Part of the confusion lies in the fact that India’s armed forces wish to prepare for another Indo-Pak or a Sino-Indian war, but one that is unlikely to happen, preferring internal security—and the battles against terror—to be left to the police forces. And the police is hopelessly ill-prepared or equipped to do so. Very little if anything at all, has been done to acquire the necessary technology to equip India’s police forces, to avert another 26/11 type of attack.

For instance, the police and paramilitary forces do not have the protection system for their personnel or their vehicles. In an era when a terrorist will at least carry the automatic AK-47’s, our police men still carry antique bolt action rifles, that are slow and tedious to operate. While a terrorist uses sat-phones and GPS navigational systems, the policeman has VHF radio sets that cannot function in cities like Mumbai with high rise buildings. And as lethal explosives are now a norm amongst terrorists,our hapless policemen have few sensors with the small teams that is a key to the quick responses that battling terrorism requires. And training simulators haven’t even been seen in a police station. In short, we cannot expect the police to stall a terrorist attack.

The article is longer, and worth reading.

DNA quotes the police commissioner of Mumbai:

Attributing the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes to the “failure of security agencies to meet such eventuality”, joint police commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria, who probed the audacious attack case, today said many lessons have been learnt in the aftermath of the siege.

“We never imagined that attacks like 26/11 would ever happen and thus we were not prepared… It was a failure of imagination. Many lessons have been learnt. But now, we are well-equipped to deal with terrorism”, Maria said in an interview to PTI on the eve of 26/11 anniversary.

One wonders whether the police have trained their imagination further, because the next attack, when it comes, will not be the same. It will be something even more horrifying.

The Sydney Morning Herald writes:

The Indian Government has boosted spending on national security by 50 per cent since the attack. The changes include:

• Establishing a new National Investigation Agency to focus on the terrorism threat.
• Increasing Mumbai’s police force by 1000 to 43,000.
• Installing hundreds of closed circuit TV cameras in the city.
• Expanding the anti-terrorism commando outfit, the National Security Guard, and creating four regional hubs so troops can be deployed quickly.
• Upgrading the capacity to patrol coastal waters.

The Mumbai attack also highlighted the need for India’s intelligence agencies to work more effectively with foreign counterparts. This was underscored when the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the US President, Barack Obama, announced closer co-operation on counter-terrorism in Washington on Tuesday.

43,000 policemen in a city of 20 million people is one policeman per 465 people. Even if each policeman were active and dependable, it wouldn’t make Mumbai a very safe city.

Nariman House last year

Xinhua reports on the events that were planned for today in Mumbai:

India will hold a series of activities Thursday to commemorate the first anniversary of the Mumbai attacks which killed more than 170 people, reported the Indo-Asian News Service on Wednesday.

The events will include a candle-light vigil, a police parade, an all-religion prayer meet at the Gateway of India in central Mumbai, facing the Taj Mahal Hotel which was controlled by the terrorists one year ago for three days, said the report.

A memorial service will also be held at the Chabad House where terrorists targeted its Jewish residents, and people from all walks of life will remember the victims and heroes of the Nov. 26 terror attacks, according to the report.

Students from all over India and Bangladesh under the banner of International Youth Peace Camp will pay homage to the victims at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station in central Mumbaiwhere terrorists opened fire, killing many people.

The memorial service at the Gateway was at 4 PM. People were arriving to light candles till late at night.

Lighting candles near the Taj

The Washington Post remains skeptical:

While some improvements in security have meant there has not been another attack by Islamist militants since Mumbai, the country’s many chaotic cities and its 1.2 billion people make it almost impossible to plug all security loopholes.

“I can’t say there won’t be another attack or a blast,” said D. Sivanandan, Mumbai’s police chief. “But if something happens, our response will be quicker and better.”

The challenges Mumbai faces in preventing militant attacks are echoed in other Indian cities crippled by an underpaid and under-trained police force and a bureaucracy unable to respond quickly to the new threats.

In Mumbai’s main train station, one of the 10 sites gunmen attacked and claimed most of their 166 victims last year, door-frame metal detectors remain unmanned. Luggage are not checked. Mumbai’s coastline, breached by the gunmen, is still largely unprotected.

“Nothing has changed. We are no better off than we were on 26/11,” said Ajai Sahni, a senior security analyst at the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi.

“The fact that there hasn’t been another major attack in the last year has nothing do with how good we have become; it’s about the greater pressure on Pakistan.”

India has refused resumption of peace talks with Pakistan and sought to bring international pressure on Islamabad to act against the militant groups operating from its soil including the Lashkar-e-Taiba that it blamed for the attack last year.

It has also raised its defense budget by a fourth and allowed private firms to hire paramilitary forces.

Police chief Sivanandan points to recent additions like quick response teams, speedboats, combat vehicles and a hub for elite commandos as measures taken to improve preparedness.

The Telegraph (London) analyzes the threat to India:

How serious, however, is the risk of another major terrorist attack on India? And how likely is it that such an attack could precipitate a regional crisis?

First, there is a mass of evidence that jihadist groups in Pakistan are indeed planning operations. Last month, the FBI detained two men of Pakistani origin, Tahawwur Rana and David Headley, on multiple charges, including plotting attacks against India. Police in Bangladesh have arrested three Lashkar operatives who they say were planning to blow up India’s diplomatic mission in Dhaka.

Second, infiltration by jihadists across the volatile Line of Control in Kashmir has shown signs of escalation, sparking off repeated skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops. More than 40 violations of a ceasefire put into force in November 2003 have been reported: no great imagination is needed to see that a renewal of hostilities over the region could precipitate a repeat of the 2001-2002 crisis, when a jihadist attack on India’s parliament took the two countries to the edge of war.

Third, even as Pakistan battles Islamist terrorists on its soil, it has shown little interest in dismantling the jihadist infrastructure directed against India. Lashkar’s offices, like those of other anti-Indian groups, are still open. In December 2008, the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions against Lashkar’s parent organisation, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN promised that his country would proscribe the Jamaat-ud-Dawa. A year on, that hasn’t happened.

VOA reports:

Sahni says India still has one of the world’s lowest ratios of police per capital. At the time of the Mumbai attacks, the city had about 40,000 police officers for its population of 20 million people, or one officer for every 500 people. “When it comes to investigative capabilities, when it comes to modern policing capabilities, when it comes to adaptability to using modern technologies, they are a pretty sad bunch. And then there is not enough of them,” he said.

He says India also still lacks the naval resources to adequately patrol the 2,600-kilometer coast from which the attackers launched their three-day siege. “Figure it out, for every 50,000 or 60,000 boats on the seas on an average day, you have got maybe 50 vessels,” he said. “And two planes buzzing around overhead looking for what? Do terrorists fly a flag?”

In memory of the terrorist attack, students paint a wall with handprints

When terror hits at the heart of the fledging luxury industry in India — the high street lobbies of Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and the Trident — it’s not surprising that the aftermath is not pretty. Since 26/11, many international luxury brands have changed hands in India, some have exited, many are seeking new alliances, and some have put expansion plans on hold. And both hotels are feeling the difference….

Trident’s Galleria, where the Gucci store took pride of place with a sweeping, sea-facing view, is today undergoing renovation having changed partners.

The Taj’s luxury corridor is also quiet, as Louis Vuitton closed after Diwali to prepare for its new avatar by Christmas . Lights are also out in stores like Burberry, Fendi and Girard Perregaux though Bvlgari, Moschino and Ermenegildo Zegna are holding tight for now.

In answer to that, I can only remind you of a report which I came across almost a year back in DNA:

Twelve-year-old Afroze Ansari, lying in ward 17 of JJ Hospital, does not know that he is an orphan now. His parents, Mohammad Abbas, 60, and Rakila Khatun, 55, succumbed to bullet injuries in the terror attack at CST station. Ansari sustained a bullet injury on his shoulder while his elder brother Mehboob, 15, was hit on his left thigh.

Mehboob, who was discharged from Nair Hospital on Sunday, found out about his parents only after reaching their Mumbra residence. The family was heading for Patna to celebrate Bakri Eid.

“I am waiting to meet my mother. She is unwell. That’s why she has not come to see me,” said Afroze.

I looked for a follow-up report for many days. There was nothing. Those who died in CST, mainly migrant workers and their families, led unremarked lives. Even in death they are not seen as individuals. Their families presumably still live with the trauma of 26/11. Exactly 60 years after the adoption of the constitution, the Indian state does not care. You and I do not do enough for them.

Sometimes a pair of dirty shoes could really take a toll on your confidence level and that’s when you know what what’s on the outside matters too. Well it does pay to be well turned out. And if you think you have no time to wash those dirty shoes – let the professionals do their job. Pick up the phone and call a shoe laundry. Reboot is one of them and when I tried their service – I think I was quite satisfied – will I send my shoes and bags their again? – Yes I would – who has the time to clean them anyway! You’d better try them if you have those pair of stinky n smelly n dirty shoes piled up in your shoe rack. Its better to be clean that clumsy right?

Go get them squeaky clean!

Log on to http://www.rebootshoelaundry.com

or call them on 9867435528/ 9819800334

I will not write too many words or too long a post.

We have already had multiple blogs and posts and news items cropping up on TV and Internet on this subject. Naseeruddin Shah made a powerful statement in the movie A Wednesday, when he told the reporter: “There are a lot of news hungry people out there” and what better or worse news than terror. No amount of coverage, no amount of tributes can take away the pain of those thousands of families who are struggling to psychologically come in terms with the shock of 26/11 and many such attacks on India. However, I have one severe reservation against media — their body language when they are reporting sensitive events. Their excitement seems to overtake their objectivity. Today there is a news on NDTV regarding Mumbaikars missing a parade of strength. The callous body language of people who are being interviewed as well as the interviewer seems visible at times. It has to be also noted that there are many who are not celebrating today the “victory” march of a new found Mumbai, but rather mourning the 1st anniversary of of people who were massacred ruthlessly and another huge mass of people who lost their fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers, daughters, sons, fiances and friends…. May be  no amount of blogs or news reports or marches might cover up the sorrow and loss of these individuals struggling to come to terms with senseless and mindless killings.

As far as citizens are concerned, they are paying their tribute by being on their job and going to schools, colleges and offices. What to do the luxury of lamentation only belongs to the top brass of the media and the parliamentarians — who have enough scope to engage in  debates and discussions. The average taxpayer (or even the labour class) has to be on his/her toes for a day’s salary, terror or no terror.

I am reminded today of a very provocative piece by one of the leading philosophers of the 20th century Jean Baudrillard named “The Gulf War Did not Take Place” where he emphatically states  that: “the war, the victory and the defeat are all equally unreal, equally non existent” (p.82).  Something that is considered as a victory for “India”, might be a major defeat from others eyes.  How and in what ways we perceive this simulacra of terror is something that is debatable still. As common human beings who die in these mindless battles of ideologies, fixations, politics and religion — we can only have anger not terror.

I had thought of restraining myself and not to post another post on the Internet during this phase. However, when I opened my dashboard today, the number of search terms baffled me. People have searched: “slogans for 26/11…emergency”, “sms messages for 26/11″, “ideas for essays on 26/11″ , etc.  Well, if we do not have 15 words of original tributes for the “martyrs” as we call them, then who can stop us from being killed again and again. The problem is extremely deep rooted and not violence but awareness is the only solution to such a menace. The problem with citizens is we have become followers rather than leaders –  we ape and copy whatever is “available” in the market or whatever the media feeds us with.

We have many “martyrs” killed in Batla House, Bus and train bomb blasts, Delhi and Bangalore attacks and 26/11  attacks as well. Moreover, it was not only 26/11, it was also 27/11 and 28/11. The rampage lasted for three days not one ….

For the time being it can only be said that there are not enough words for a tribute…

“Lest we forget” (deliberately chose this quotation from a news channel) ….

Jai Hind!

Dosti Acres Complex is in  Wadala East, Mumbai .  Some of the other Apartments in the area include Llyod Estate, Centrum Towers and Dosti Acres Complex.

Locality Information Near Dosti Acres Complex:

Hospitals:

Indian police showed off their upgraded equipment as they paraded through Mumbai a year after devastating attacks by militants paralyzed the country’s financial hub for 60 long hours and killed 166 people…. From VOA. Full story

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THIS PARTICULAR POST HAS BEEN MAILED TO US BY A VISITOR (SIDDARTH REDDY), SO WE CLAIM NO AUTHORITY ON THE MATERIAL.

Mumbai. Exactly a year back, ten terrorists came to Mumbai to kill people and subsequently to get killed in the process, so that they were rewarded virgins in the heaven after they died. Nine of them (assuming the official count to be true) were killed while one, called Ajmal Amir Kasab, was captured alive. While we know (to the extent government and media wants us to know) how Kasab has been doing in the last one year, have we ever wondered what happened to those nine killed?

Our correspondent immediately took up the assignment and did a GODgle search (a search engine especially made for heaven by dead Google engineers) to find about the nine terrorists, but he couldn’t get any result. Since no Microsoft employees were involved in making of Godgle, our correspondent was dead sure that it was not some bug.

After filing an RTI in the office of MCH (Municipal Corporation of Heaven), our correspondent received the shocking revelation that none of those nine killed terrorists actually reached the heaven. They didn’t even get a waiting list, in fact they were straightway sent to the hell.

Clearly it was a Breaking News. So our correspondent decided to travel to hell to interview some of the dead terrorists. Since the diplomatic relations between Hell and Heaven are on rocks due to the ongoing and historical enmity between Satan and God, our correspondent was denied visa to go to hell. But after a lot of deliberations and requests, finally permission for a telephonic interview with one of the terrorists was allowed.

The nine dead terrorists apparently authorized a certain Imran Babar to speak on their behalf to Fake News. Followings are the highlights of the Fake News interview with the dead terrorist:

Fake News (FN): Thanks for speaking to us Imran. How are you feeling?

Imran Babar (IB): O benchod! Aag laga ke rakhi hai pichhwade mein ek saal se inhone, aur kaisa feel karunga? (My ass has been on fire since last one year, what am I supposed to feel?)

FN: Sorry for your ass Imran, but it must have been a shocker to find yourself in the hell after being promised virgins in the heaven?

IB: abbey jale pe namak mat chhidak! (abbey, don’t add injury to my insult!) Virgins? My ass! I’m getting fucked in my ass daily by the Satan here.

FN: Oh! Sorry again for your ass Imran, but did you seriously have no idea, when you were alive, that you could actually end up in such a situation?

IB: How was I supposed to know then? I could make bombs, use Google Maps and operate Kalashnikovs, but that doesn’t mean I knew everything. I depended upon my commanders (in LET) for all the instructions and knowledge. I blindly trusted them on these matters.

FN: Do you feel cheated by them?

IB: inki maa ki! I feel such an asshole now to have believed their crap. I’m sure those bastards would too end up coming here. I’m gonna fuck their happiness I swear! benchod saale!

FN: Can you tell us a little more about yourself and your friends?

IB: There is nothing to tell. We are being tortured like hell. Well, what more do you expect in hell?

FN: Do you repent your beliefs and deeds?

IB: Do I need to answer that question?

FN: Apart from earlier terrorists, whom else did you meet in hell?

IB: Oh that’s so funny, you would be shocked to know, and your editors back on earth will never publish the names. In fact, now I’m dead sure there is no way out there on earth where we can predict who’s gonna land up in heaven or hell, and yet we are fighting for ages now. I’m sure you too must be feeling the same back there in the heaven. Tell me dude, do you really get virgins there?

FN: None that I’ve been awarded yet.

IB: What the hell! Then where are all the virgins?

FN: You still believe in this infidel vs. faithful talk?

IB: Well, the Satan talks about them before pounding my ass. Sometimes he sounds just like my earlier commanders in Lashkar-e-Taiba. But the good thing is that he doesn’t promise me any good days ahead like those assholes in Lashkar.

FN: One of your friends, Kasab, has been caught alive. Do you guys know it?

IB: Of course we know it. When we found him missing in the hell, we were pretty sure he was alive, as there is no way he could have gone to the heaven. We heard he’s been provided biryani and books. Lucky bastard! Man, this sucks! Here I’m getting ass-fucked by Satan and there he is enjoying all the hospitality of Indians. I’m sure the future terrorists will not listen to the assholes of Lashkar and won’t kill themselves. It’s far better to be alive.

FN: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

IB: With a wider ass and a hungrier Satan.

FN: Since this interview will be read by living people back on earth, do you have any message for the aspiring terrorists down there?

IB: Oh yeah! I have one simple advice for them – if you want the virgins, stay away from the assholes.

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Days became months and months gave way to a year.
In the past 12 months .. we mourned .. we cried .. apart from this tragedy, we had our individual ups and downs .. our joys, sorrows and festivities.
Life continues …
Life will continue … inspite of all the joys and sorrows .. we, I am sure wont forget those who lost their lives for no fault of theirs.
Be it civilians, martyrs or officials from the army, navy and the police force.
I, like many other "Dreamers of Peace" salute them and pray to the Almighty to put their souls to rest and bestow peace, love and brotherhood amongst all the world citizens and instill sensibilities to those who think otherwise.

Amen. Ameen.

Had shot the ‘VT’ picture during rains when I got a part of VT as a reflection on the road.
Used 3 different photographs to create the above photograph.
Candles and crows are seperate pictures of mine which I used it here as added textures.
Also I, thank my friend Rizwan Mithawala
www.flickr.com/photos/rizwanmithawala/
for allowing me to use his photograph ‘Bakery Wall’ which he had shot at the Bakery Wall opposite Nariman House, Colaba.
That makes the 3rd texture.
Thanks so much Rizwan for this lovely gesture.