|
|
|
|
Salute to victims and martyrs in Mumbai
On December. 3, 2008 the people of Mumbai came out into the streets to join a mammoth gathering that took place near the Taj Hotel. It was a clarion call made to the people to come together to show solidarity, express their outrage against the Nov. 26 terror attack and protest the callous and inept attitude of their politicians.
It was through the Internet, blogs and SMS messages that scores of people joined the rally. And the response was fantastic and unbelievable.
Tens of thousands of people participated. This rally is unique in many ways. It was the first of its kind ever to take place in
Mumbai. Social networking and new media came to the fore in marshalling such a huge rally -- bringing into focus the importance of digital age we live in.
Moreover, it was used to channel public outrage and anguish against the terrorists and the utter failure of
our politicians to protect us. This has redefined the concept of citizen journalism and has left little doubt
that amateur journalism is here to stay.
The outcome of this public demonstration has helped many heads to roll in the Indian government. First to go was India's Home Minister Shivraj Patil, followed by Maharashtra Home Minster RR Patil and Chief Minister Vilasrao
Deshmukh.
|
|
|
Terror attacks in Mumbai
Mumbai, November 30: After a 60 hour battle the Taj Hotel is finally under control, said the NSG chief.
Home minister Shivraj Patil was forced to resigned and now P.
Chidabaram has been put incharge of the home portfolio.
Indian commandos killed the last Islamist gunmen holed up at
Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel on Saturday, ending a three-day battle at landmarks
across India's financial capital that killed at least 172 people.
Ratan Tata, the chairman of the Tata Group of companies which owns the hotel,
arrived at the premises later in the morning. He may be shocked by what he finds
when he is finally let inside.
India blamed the strike on "elements" from Pakistan, raising tensions between
the nuclear-armed rivals. An Indian state minister said one of the militants
arrested was a Pakistani national and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned of "a cost" if India's
neighbours did not take action to stop their territory being used to launch
attacks.
The arrested man has confessed to being a member of the
Pakistan- based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, which has long fought Indian forces in disputed
Kashmir and was blamed for an attack on India's parliament in December
2001. But Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi struck a conciliatory note
and promised full cooperation.
MUMBAI, November 27, 2008: "At least six foreigners have been killed and the death figure has gone up to 101 now," Ramesh Tayde, a senior police officer told from Mumbai's control room. In one of the most violent terror attacks on Indian soil, Mumbai came under an unprecedented night attack as terrorists used heavy machine guns, including AK-47s, and grenades to strike at the city's most
high- profile targets -- the hyper-busy CST (formerly VT) rail terminus; the landmark Taj Hotel at the Gateway and the luxury Oberoi Trident at Nariman Point; the
domestic airport at Santa Cruz; the Cama and GT hospitals near CST; the Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dockyard -- killing at least 101 and sending hundreds of injured to hospital, according to latest reports.
The attacks have taken a tragic toll on the city's top police brass: The
high- profile chief of the anti-terror squad Hemant Karkare was killed; Mumbai's additional commissioner of police (east) Ashok Kamte was gunned down outside the Metro; and celebrated encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar was also killed.
The attacks appeared to be aimed at getting international attention as the terrorists took upto 40 British nationals and other foreigners hostage. The chairman of Hindustan Unilever Harish Manwani and CEO of the company Nitin Paranjpe were among the guests trapped at the Oberoi. All the internal board members of the multinational giant were reported to be holed up in the Oberoi hotel.
The Army and Navy in Mumbai were put on alert. 65 Army commandos and 200 NSG commandos were being rushed to Mumbai, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said. The Navy commandos too have been asked to assist the police. Special secretary M L Kumawat is in constant touch with the state police. Some media reports attributed the attack to Lashkar-e-Taiba. There were also unconfirmed reports that some of the terrorists came in by sea. A boat laden with explosives was recovered later at night off the Gateway of India.
|
Dome of Taj hotel in flames in Mumbai after the terror attack
At least six foreigners have been killed and the death figure has gone up to 101
now. erminus; the landmark Taj Hotel at the Gateway and the luxury Oberoi Trident at
Nariman Point; the domestic airport at Santa Cruz; the Cama and GT hospitals near CST; the Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dockyard.
|
|
Terror strikes in Assam
Guwahati, November 3, 2008: People from all walks of life in Assam
converged on the streets on Sunday to express their anguish against
Thursday’s serial blasts and firm resolve to fight terrorism. Candles were lit to pay tributes to those killed in the blasts and to pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Guwahati,
November 3, 2008: The death toll in Thursday's serial bomb blasts in Assam has reached
84. Over 470 other have been injured in the 12 blasts in the fours cities of the
state.
In one of the worst terror attacks in the restive northeast, that has seen a lot
of separatist violence in the last couple of decades, 12 bombs went off in less
than an hour in Guwahati as well as in the western districts of Barpeta,
Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon. More than 300 people were injured, many of whom are in
a critical condition.
A police spokesperson said the blasts began at 11.20 a.m. and went off one after
another in rapid succession -- five in Guwahati, three each in Barpeta and Kokrajhar and one in Bongaigaon. "Preliminary investigations show that the bombs were strapped on bicycles and
the explosives were packed with highly inflammable substances that led to big
fires soon after the blasts," said Assam government spokesperson Himanta Biswa
Sarma. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted in a press conference in the evening: "I do
admit I did not anticipate this kind of a terror strike." |
GUWAHATI, India,
Nov. 3, 2008 (Reuters): A strike to protest against bombings that killed 84 people in India's troubled Assam state last week shut down the region
on Monday, police said, with angry Indians blaming illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
At the blast site
Thick black smoke billowed into the sky and the mangled remains of cars littered
Guwahati's streets as fire brigade personnel and rescue workers rushed in to
control the flames.
|
|
Major terror strikes in India
NEW DELHI, October 30, 2008: At least 600 people have been killed and hundreds maimed and devastated in terror strikes in India in the last six years. Following is a chronology of the major terrorist attacks in the country:
Assam, Oct 30, 2008: At least 45 killed (figure can change) and over
100 injured in 18 terror bombings across Assam.
Imphal, Oct 21, 2008: 17 killed in a powerful blast near Manipur Police Commando complex.
Kanpur, Oct 14, 2008: Eight people injured after bomb planted on a rented bicycle went off Colonelganj market.
Malegaon, Maharashtra, Sep 29, 2008: Five people died after a bomb kept in a motorbike went off in a crowded market.
Modasa, Gujarat, Sep 29 2008: One killed and several injured after a low-intensity bomb kept on a motorcycle went off near a mosque.
New Delhi, Sep 27, 2008: 3 people killed after a crude bomb was thrown in a busy market in
Mehrauli.
New Delhi, Sep 13, 2008: 26 people killed in six blasts across the city.
Ahmedabad, July 26, 2008: 57 people killed after 20-odd
bombs went off within less than two hours.
Bangalore, July 25, 2008: One person killed in a low-intensity bomb explosion.
Jaipur, May 13, 2008: 68 people killed in serial bombings.
Hyderabad, Aug 25, 2007: 42 people killed in two blasts, at a popular eatery and a public park.
Samjhauta Express, Feb 19, 2007: 66 people killed after two firebombs went off on the India-Pakistan friendship train.
Malegaon, Maharashtra, Sep 8, 2006: 40 people killed in two blasts.
Mumbai, July 11, 2006: 209 people killed in seven blasts on suburban trains and stations.
Varanasi, March 7, 2006: 21 people killed in three blasts including one at a temple and another at a railway station.
New Delhi, Oct 29, 2005: 61 people killed in three blasts on the eve of
Diwali.
Mumbai, Aug 25, 2003: 46 people killed in two blasts including one near the Gateway of India.
Gandhinagar, Sep 24, 2002: 34 people killed in the attack on the Akshardham temple.
|
|
|
