Mumbai and Terror: The Day After
An attack of this scale has surprised the entire country. While India is no stranger to bomb blasts and attacks by terrorists, a prolonged hostage situation at prominent landmarks is a complete surprise. The last hostage situation that was covered this extensively was the hijacking of a flight in 1999.
At Mumbai Metblogs, ideasmith rounds up the events of a day and more.
Later this morning, there was a sudden buzz that a fresh round of firing had opened at C.S.T. station and that hostages had been taken. This turned out to be a false rumour. Apparantly someone had heard some noise that sounded to them like gunfire and panicked.
Just ten minutes back, I heard what sounded like a blast. I jumped but I ignored it. Two minutes later it was followed by another one. I looked up to see if anyone else had heard it. Apparantly no one else had. I was just debating whether to go back to my desk (in one corner of the office so I could have been the only one to hear it, being closest) or tell someone (and risk starting another panic wave). Upstairs someone else had heard it too and called us to check it out. We raced to the terrace, hearts thundering. It turned out to be nothing more than the daily workers going about their deed at the construction site next door. Whhhewwwww.
On Twitter, prempanicker is providing constant updates. In a sense, it captures the high levels of confusion. Every two hours, there is a an announcement of sorts that things are under control, but right after, more gunbattle and blasts are reported.
code clicks n caffeine posts photographs from the last two days – taken by various people and from various sources. John P Matthew has been liveblogging the events in Mumbai, with reflections on people's reactions and the media's coverage.
At the office where I am there are excited voices, raised in concern, about attacks at VT station through which I have to pass. Somebody says that in the lane downstairs terrorists were firing indiscriminately. There's panic in the building and a colleague is spreading more terror with his uncontrolled blurting of what little he knows. He gets too excited unnecessarily.
Kunal at Live's Short Live it Up has been liveblogging relentlessly as well –
# GPS Satellite phones found on terrorists. Another phone with foreign SIM card found near Taj hotel
# Terrorists hijacked fishing boards
#All Terrorists in Taj hotel have been Eliminated! [23:25]
# NSG sources say one injured terrorist still holed up at Taj hotel
# More hostages rescued from Nariman House. 15-17 people are out of Nariman house now
# 25 blasts at Taj hotel in last 24 hours
# Fresh round of firing from Taj hotel’s far end
As is obvious, confusion appears to reign supreme, and there's very little clarity on the status of the terrorists and hostage situation.
30 comments
We have squabbled and fought! We need to now put an end to this! Our leaders should stop their cosy meetings and show some action. The Maharashtra CM is setting up a NSG type outfit.When? No one knows. What about the rest of the country – South, West, NorthWest. Terrorists will think twice before planning such attacks when they know that they can be shut down quickly. Next we have to show we mean business. Even the humble bee makes sure that it stings anyone who dares touch its hive. Our country has been attacked our people killed. When are we going to show that we can sting? Are we just going to sit in a corner and lick our wounds?
The markets are are shrinking due to recessoin..!
the economies falling on face!curency values going drastically down! careers and dreams are shattering!
every one in this part are worried of the bad effects of this whole crisis!
and these Terrorists are forcing-in the recession on humanity and on the very value of LIFE.
why do they choose a wrong reason to lay down their lives for?
if their own life is so less important to them why cant they die for something Good!(why can’t they live for Good,rather)
there is hunger, poverty, health issues, illitaracy, injustice,corruption, drugs,abuse!
why can’t lay down their lives for it? why can’t they Become the REAL HEROES?
why they are blinding thier discretion?
everyone is neglecting something..!
every one is running away from something astoundidng!
there is a deep silent Voice within us which we have long forgotten!
but it still sometimes, manages to reach roof tops of our hardend minds and hearts and cries out- “hey, man …all this is improper,it’s hurting me deep within..!if only you could here me…and acknowledge me that i’m your very Own ‘CONCIOUSNESS’ and wanting to guide you the right way…….!”
nobody loves to here this kind-a-stuff…!
this is a fact of life. every one likes to find fault with the other and feels great that he’s the first person in this universe to have thrown the stone on the most deserving person!
we’re in a world where meekness is treated as weakness!
but if only all could realize the power of love, and measure the reach of calmness, and hear the Honesty of SELF(Conciousness)… we will, surpringly be DIFFERENT!
with LOVE, PEACE and HORMONY as weapons people have left the most big impact on Humanity than an atom Bomb!
Lets Start looking in..!
it’ Hightime ..!
other wise it’s merry-go-round.. baby!
i fully agree with Laxmi!
appreciate your thought!
its a too greedy wish to have but how Beutiful it woud be if brothers live in unity!
How wonderful it is to hope for a RE-UNION of india and pakistan!
i know its too imaginary and equals almost the CREATION act- i’m still loving to dream this!
then we’ll surely be the super power!
Ravi are you serious?! What do you mean India should take charge like USA did with Iraq and Afghanistan? Are you talking about India attacking Pakistan and killing thousands of innocent people in the name of democracy, like USA did with Iraq and Afganistan? So tell me exactly what democracy has USA promoted with those actions? In their fight for democracy did the US troops just kill the so called islamic extremists in those countries? What about the innocent civilians who lost their lives? Aren’t they human and innocent just like the victims of the Mumbai attacks? Or are people living in Afhanistan and Iraq not considered to be civilians or human for that matter? When US or British troops “accidentally” open fire on innocents and kill them, its called a “tragic mistake”. And that some how makes it Ok and acceptable? What about the feelings of the family members left behind? In these so called fights for democracy just how many of those killed are responsible for terrorist attacks such as that of 9/11 or the recent attacks in Mumbai? Your idea of taking charge by attacking other countries sovereignity does not solve anything! I suggest you do some serious thinking about the possible consequences of such actions before calling for the Indian Government to declare war on Pakistan!
I felt the 24th comment was as silly as what comes first, the chicken or the egg. By the time we decide to act, the terrorists will have struck so much fear in us that we never muster courage to act. It is time we act and support US fully and participate in the war of terror. why not not strike at heart and finish the mennace when we have the capability. There will definetly be loss of life of our soldiers & inocent people, but if action aint taken, there will be no stopping of the Mumbai war either. It is time we get our act together and do rather than discuss.
Re:Dheena
“Pakistan will NOT tolerate anything which affects it’s sovereignty” has been a favourite line quoted mechanically time & again by pak’s foreign minister after US attacks on suspected terror camps in Pakistan..Those attacks had some unfortunate civilian casualties..
US is actually trying to nip the problems in the bud by carpet combing operations against terror camps in the Pak-Afghan border..The time has come for us to take the attack to their soil..We’ve got the expertise & the manpower to do the same..We are anyways being targetted for being the most vulnerable nation..Let’s send a strong message & take out those terror camps..Karachi by sea-route is just 4-5 hours away from Mumbai..It’s clear that Pak is unable to control these elements..It can send a positive message to the international community by undertaking this joint exercise with the Indian Security forces..
Having said that, Pak is controlled by US now..All decisions are taken in consideration & permission from US..Without the US aid, survival for Pak is a concern..US is our biggest road-block to conduct those strikes on Pak-based terror camps..Ironically, US had done it in Afghanistan, Iraq & now in Pakistan after their 9/11..The same steps, if taken by us will be frowned upon & US will jump on the diplomatic bandwagon to thwart a possible “War between the nuclear neighbours”
Appreciat the comments and opinions on the blog. But enough of discussion and time to act. We need to rejuvinate our political system and activiely drive it. How many of us are ready to leave the comfort behind us and dedicate time to contribute towards the well being of the nation. Lets discuss on what we need to do rather than sit on our computer and blame muslims, hindu extremists, Pakistan or our beloved coward ahole Raj thakery.
We proudly feel that ours is A great Democracy,
but certain eliments in our system have become the cancer to riun/stagnate this system gradually!
some of these are :
1). Religious Fundamentalists: Be it Hindu extremists or Muslim extremists or any other extremist(I’m not aware of any Barbaric/violent Chrisitan Group in the likes of RSS,VHP, LET,IM etc…Correct me) they are the Most Dangerous Infection like AIDS. for them thier Religion is First. their faith is To slaughter people of other Faiths like animals. for them Country is not first but their religion.Its SAD they have thier clear Hidden agenda for people of this Country!
2). Politicians: the real culprits. they say honeycoated words but to get power they can go to any extent. their only focus is to nourish their vote banks in terms of Cast, Religion, Poverty, Region,Money so on
unless these two cancers are properly diagnoised and cut off theres is no Hope at all for this system to reach the right standards.
let me remind you of the Hindu extremists in Orissa who burnt alive Graham Stains along with his two very young innoscent children( Graham stains, was an australian Christian who’d set up AASHRAMS for Leprosy patients).these same Brabrians have killed many christians(above 100) in Orissa recently.
But the Chrisitians Believe in “love your enemy” priciple.they won’t get into any violent retaliation but hope the govt to take stern action. but this is not the case with muslims.they want to pay back for any such acts.Here i quote Kalpana(no.7) -“Why can’t Muslims ever take responsibility of their brethren?
Why can’t they say I feel ashamed for what’s being done in the name of my religion.” but this is applicable to all Hindus too to condemn any kind of attacks on Minorities.
we are crying foul over pak’s inability to control terror within their country.ofcourse it looks haywire strtethere but what’s happening within in India with likes of Sadvis and Purohiths, Pandeys, Dharasings,Raj thakareys emerging!Just think how Bjp is using hindutwa agenda to gain power? How this Coward Raj tried to destabilsie Mumbai on Regional sentimnets? How he is carefully implimenting His politcal ambitions into action.How his actions provoked that young man of north to hijack a bus with a pistol and had to be encountered. every Barbaric actiona has a following, opposite action. this is very evident from past.
Now First Lets all be united in Defining Terror, we can’t be Biasesd.
now one should ask him self who’s the real culprit.
I have came across loads of blogs and being a blogger myself and running my own blog, i never expected such decent discussion on this controversial topic. I really appreciate Dheena for her comment and the neutral stance shown by most of the commentators. I think that by just blaming each other will never solve the problems. We, the young generation should play the role of bridge between the two countries rather then spreading the same old message of hatred. I hate fanatics residing in India but then i also hate those residing in Pakistan so why not people like us get together to make a difference in the lives of our countries.