Mumbai: Today marks 13 years since the terrorist attack in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. On this day, i.e. 26 November 2008, ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists stunned Mumbai with bomb blasts and firing. In a way, Mumbai had become a hostage for about sixty hours. Today it has been 13 years since this terrorist attack.
But, this is that dark day in the history of India which no one can forget. More than 160 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in the attack. Remembering the Mumbai attack, people still get heartbroken. Let’s know about this in detail-
Horrible conspiracy against Mumbai
Mumbai was at its peak on the evening of 26 November 2008. Like every evening, this evening was also going to be buzzing that suddenly there was a sound of firing in a part of the city. The terrorists started wreaking havoc, starting from Leopold Cafe and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). At first, no one had any idea that this attack could be so big. But gradually reports of blasts and firing started coming from other areas of Mumbai. By the middle of the day, the effect of terror was beginning to be seen in the atmosphere of the city of Mumbai.
Entered Mumbai by boat from Karachi
What emerged from the investigation of the Mumbai attacks suggests that 10 attackers entered Mumbai by boat from Karachi. There were four Indians on this boat, who were killed by the time they reached the shore. It was around eight o’clock in the night when these attackers landed on the fish market of Cuffe Parade near Colaba. From there they divided into four groups and took a taxi and headed towards their destinations.
Fishermen suspected
It is said that some fishermen got suspicious after seeing the hustle and bustle of these people and they also informed the police. But, the police of the area did not give any special attention to this nor did it inform further to the top officials or intelligence forces.
On the night of 26 November, the terrorists completely turned their attitude towards the Taj Hotel. Here the terrorists took many guests hostage, including seven foreign nationals. The heritage wing of the Taj Hotel was set on fire. On the morning of November 27, the NSG commandos had reached to face the terrorists. First, the operation ended on the afternoon of 28 November by freeing the hostages at Hotel Oberoi, and by the evening of the same day, the terrorists of Nariman House were also killed. But it took time till the morning of 29 November to complete the operation of Hotel Taj.
Terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, who played Holi in Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, was caught alive after an encounter in the Tardeo area. He was badly injured. Later he had exposed the terrorist conspiracy of Pakistan. He had disclosed the names of his comrades killed. Later Kasab was tried and then he was given a death sentence.
In the operation to thwart the Mumbai terror attack, 11 people of Mumbai Police, ATS, and NSG were martyred. These include ATS chief Hemant Karkare, ACP Ashok Kamte, NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, encounter specialist SI Vijay Salaskar, Inspector Sushant Shinde, SI Prakash More, SI Dudgude, ASI Nanasaheb Bhonsle, ASI Tukaram Omble, constable Vijay Khandekar, Jaywant Patil, Yogesh Patil, Ambadas Pawar, and MC Chaudhary. Apart from this, 137 people died in this attack while about 300 people were injured.
