Second time in our life time Bombay, also known as Mumbai, has been hit by coordinated serial bombing. Mumbai blast of 1993 was terrible and what we have here is even more scaring. Though the number of fatalities, as of writing this article, is less than 1993, it is still very high and the target was Mumbai’s railway network.
I am staying in Dubai but all my families and near-distant relatives are in Bombay. When I heard the news about these blasts and that it was all in the localities that my family/relatives stays I was shivering. I was on my way for Magrib Salat (namaz) and praying & hoping my families, relatives and friends are safe. The blasts where timed and synchronized for peak hours. I was thinking how many of my friends and persons I know might be traveling during this time. And eagerly hoping I don’t get to hear any personal bad news. During the next few hours I was able to get in touch with many and was lucky to know they are safe. But how many in Mumbai may not be that lucky today and would be grieving for their lost.
The blasts happened in Mumbai and 1000 miles away I was in grip of terror, fearing for the safety of my family. It was only after talking with them that I was relieved. And most of the non-resident Indians having their dear ones back in Mumbai may have gone through similar pains.
The Mumbai blast is surely an act of Terrorism and terrorism has no face, no boundary, no beliefs in existence of God and his promise of Judgment day. Terrorism surely has no value for life. The murder of a single man, not guilty of any heinous crime, is a keen to murdering the whole humanity. But people who perpetuate such crimes are Terrorists, who works only for money, for their selves, for the fulfillment of their desires at any cost.
They won’t believe in Quran which says:
“For that, We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever kills even one person, except as punishment for murder or major crimes, it would be as if he has killed all of humanity. And whoever saved one innocent life, it would be as if he saved all of humanity.” – Quran Verse (5:32)
The Administration has been inefficient in providing the necessary security. And now it should not be so in conducting the investigation. It would do no justice if the investigation and police agencies, like in many past cases, catch up the wrong guys who later after years of prosecution & defense are acquitted by the Judiciary. And the real culprits are free to perform their next act. We don’t need scapegoats, and neither would we appreciate if the Police show us only the infantry involved. In a country with millions of poor, one can at least find thousand such infantry who would be ready to commit any crime for few thousand Rupees. To be real efficient, the investigation agencies have to catch or at least come up with strong evidence to frame the masterminds. And show evidences which are worth their salt in the Court of Law.
All hypotheses should be considered and verified. In times today, it is fashionable for every analyst to say hours after the blasts that it ‘carries the signature of Al Qaeda‘. Al Qaeda, a group even these analysts never heard of prior to 9/11 and which has been made hugely ineffective as a functional unit. This same thought would have never come to their imagination, for instance, during Mumbai 1993 blasts or any other incident prior to 9/11. Though it would be foolish not to consider its involvement, as every possibilities should be considered. But it would be more idiotic if the investigation agencies, to meet deadlines & show results, defaults to this common punching bag.
If we are to believe this British intelligence analyst Richard M Bennett, who says on Rediff:
“This has all the hallmarks of a Special Forces/Intelligence operation… it may have been carried out by expendable extremists, but those who were the promoters and brains have military training.”
Now whether this is a lame attempt of external forces to influence the Indian think-tank in believing ISI involvement or not, it surely is a valid and logical conclusion. We have seen, as in March 1993, to efficiently execute such well-coordinated attacks it needs military backing. Reviewing the so many terrorist attacks globally in last half-century will only reveal this single common factor – the powers at top behind the executioners are government-funded agencies.
Whether it is Russia’s KGB, Pakistan’s ISI, America’s CIA, Britain’s MI5 or Israel’s Mossad, it is an open secret that these agencies receives billions of dollar annually to carry out covert operations in foreign lands. Time and again we have seen in news (which later is quickly dispelled) about their involvement in funding local warlords, mafia gangs and regional extremists. To be honest even India’s RAW is no angel and has been active in its neighborhood – definitely in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan & Bangladesh.
Pakistan has well feed the insurgent in Kashmir and to a large extent in 90′s Punjab, which also received huge support from Britain. Likewise India is accused of its support to LTTE in Sri Lanka, and the then East Pakistan which later became Bangladesh. America’s CIA which is the largest intelligence network and with a huge booty to spend, is very much active through out the world and not limited to its neighboring foreign lands. And why we forget that it was the Green Dollar which was used to form Al-Qaeda and arm it with all the weapons.
Terrorists by themselves are dummies and, in fact, the most vulnerable people on earth that can be easily manipulated through money, religious feelings, national cause or black-mail. Through these manipulations they will commit any crime in their homeland or foreign lands.
Recently we have seen many sting operations in USA and Canada to catch-up wannabe terrorists. Whether it was the Miami Seven or Canada’s 17, in each case we have seen how these Government Intelligence agencies manipulated the individuals involved, recruited them, gave them a plot for execution and also the necessary material. Though these operations where meant to be sting and so they were never executed. But what if they were allowed to continue with the execution? Simple – all over the world the news would talk about “Terrorist attacks”, “Islamist Extremism”, the world would have believed the news, the infantry culprit dead on way to hell, the wannabe foot soldiers praising the martyrdom and the Intelligence agency busy classifying & wiping out any of their left-over footprints.
To strike home my point, consider if tomorrow there would be a terrorist attack involving Nuclear/Biological weapons. Do you think any group like Al Qaeda, Lashkar, LTTE or IRA has the capability/facility to indigenously manufacture such weapons? It’s a clear No, and the only way they can get such weapons is through these various Government-backed shadowy agencies & their projects.
Now where is the global Will to stop these real powers who are affecting our life and mind? Why is it taboo to criticize the role of such agencies that are, on ever increasing basis, performing deeds against humanity? If the national interest and national security can only be maintained by playing havoc in foreign lands, then who would stay safe in this world?
Enough of money and power has been given to such agencies which are the real terrorist outfits. Enough of their secrets have been kept classified and away from any Judiciary system. In our century, unfortunately, You and I are not safe from their mischief.
Well-written Subhan. I have visited Subcoded quite often. Nice to see this piece here. As Subhan is very much techno-savvy I am sure he will help me out with a few problems also.
Read this blog in Admanya about terrorism and I am sure many will agree. It is written by one angryindian and the title goes as “Buy Bangles, Cholis, Ghagras to our IPS officers and Home Minsitry Staffers”.
Excellent blog subhan. Well done and God Bless You.
> Now where is the global Will to stop these real powers who are affecting our life and mind? Why is it taboo to criticize the role of such agencies that are, on ever increasing basis, performing deeds against humanity? If the national interest and national security can only be maintained by playing havoc in foreign lands, then who would stay safe in this world?
Intelligence agencies, just like armies and air forces, are necessary to defend our countries. Asking them to be removed is no less naive than asking everyone to demilitarize completely – great idea that would, alas, work only if all humans were Jesuses and Gandhis.
The *clever* thing to do here is to accept the reality, close ranks, and destroy the others’ ability to attack us. There’s very little point in yearning for a global enlightenment.
> Terrorists by themselves are dummies and, in fact, the most vulnerable people on earth that can be easily manipulated through money, religious feelings, national cause or black-mail.
Ah, that explains it. Terrorists who blow up people and cut open pregnant women’s bellies are vulnerable, innocent naives!
But I do get your point. To inflame violent anger, its necessary that there is a strong sense of vicitmisation and disempowerment among the group concerned. The Sangh Parivar, for example, loses no opportunity to insinuate that Hinduism faces eradication in India, that the Hindus has been historically brutalized by foreign cultures, and that Hindus are under attack once again. I’m afraid prominent Muslim leaders too play a similar role for Muslims, some arguably more intentionally than others.
It’s simple: those who breed an undue sense of disempowerment and victimization in particular communities are acting as force-multipliers for anti-Indian powers. There are “root causes” for everything, but it’s important that we don’t amplify them out of proportions. If we do, then we wage war against our own country. Instead, lets concentrate on what we can do and what our strengths are.
I ran into this (http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/02inter.htm) interview with Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqi, the founder of SIMI. Very enlightening! On whether Muslims are being marginalized in India, he says,
“I personally am not very comfortable (with this) because that is the general impression that people have about the Muslims in India. When somebody goes there to write or report, in three days of tour from one part of the country to the other, that is the kind of story they get. I do not think Muslims are at all marginalised. They cannot be marginalised.
Many people have this impression that there may be a couple of millions of Muslims in India, but they do not have the idea that there are more than 120 million Muslims in India. Such a large population cannot be marginalised.”
What happened at Mumbai , this time not the local trains or the crowded place where the innocent crowed walks, this time Taj and oberios what will be the next ? and what will be the time may by the grace of some hindu or muslim or christen or sikh or jain god , information come to our prime minister and then possibly he can stop these attacks. Or it might be possible he wont stop attacks “ let it happen” because he feel happy that atleast now India have a reason to get attention of International community. International bosses can understand that we are also suffering from the fever of terrorism. And then again if the sufficient “sacrifices” or enough people die then may be possible that international bosses give India final nod to go ahead and kill the face of terrorism and then Indian free media demonstrate that we have get the nod from bosses to liberate ourselves from the terror. Boss is with us so we have to win. Win and win situation for India. No import ban, no export ban, no business problem, no problem for our peaceful image because boss with us.
But what happened if these 150 deaths are not sufficient to get the nod. Will we wait for another bomb blasts? How much “sacrifice” of the common men is required? How much “police men” “black commandos” has to die without cause. How long we will solace them by making them “hero”. They also feel ashamed because first let the terrorist come into the house, let them accomplish there targets like international attention, deaths of common Indian not foreigners (remember all the people die were Indian (except 6 by default) and the rescued one are foreigners) and stop stock exchanges etc etc now police surrounded the area and (politician get the nod and pass it on) called the Black Commandos. They come in quantity to kill the few. And war begin ended after the long coverage (till all the international community understand) or till the 200 innocent person sacrifice or till they become hero. What a heroism? (I deeply regret of saying so, I am not have any match with these courageous guys but I am just pointed out that I think they also not feel pride to do the operation in his own country they were made to do the things in other country.)
As I asked before I am asking again what if 200 death are not sufficient to get the “Nod” to fight against the disease from which we are suffering from last 60 years. Simple answers just try to remove the attention of Janta from this issue. How? Again simple, let the media tell the stories of “heroism” those who died their family will get packaged “ politician proudly announce these glorious fund on media. Death = money compensation. And if this doest workout, media again address this issue then SENSEX on new high or low, economic package to boost liquidity (as they already did by giving money to the death ridden families) and then show we have lot of other works to do by just goofing over the nonsense of Terrorist “ look those fool we have killed them in our home”. We atleast prove hindi proverb true “ apne gahr me to kuuta bhi share hota hai”
Am I extremists? Am I overreacting to this situation? More then 60 years same problem not resolved. Should I still wait patiently next 50 years to get my voice in independent, free, democratic country?
One of the things to learn of these terrorist attacks is the giant leap that terrorism has taken towards professionalism. Unfortunately, we will have to learn to live with this.
http://www.ginovandewalle.com/terrorism-part-ii/
I was havin dinner with my friend & i got a call sayin series of blasts in mumbai i was shocked for a while & standstill . I m disgust with the authority,administration & enforcement agency of our country.They r capable of doin nothin on the name of ‘spirit of mumbai’we r always exploited & honestly even we ‘commen people’turns back or neglects the real problem .Who will want to lose their salary fordays going to work even in sensetive time it is our oligation not the spirit if we want to show our spirit we all have to come together n protest against govt.or least we should have become aware of our rights & duties as a citizen but plz stot this crap of mumbai spirit we r simply escapin or ignorin our duties sayin this.i m fail to understand how any bastard can even cross our coastal line & what d coastal guard were doin sleepin?n who bloody has a right to destroy our heritage buildin n other places no fudamentalist has right to invade our home n peace. This blasts were happened showin lack of negligence by mumbai police coz fisher had lodged d complaint about stealin of boat & even intelligence bureau had warned maharashtra govt but these rascal govt.authrity avoided that n did not even took precautions.i m furious & shaken deeply by this blasts .i saw dead bodies.i saw cryin people,i saw injured & affected people & i saw this cryin orphange who lost his parents in Narimen House disaster & m moved n helpless seeing this i mean being a human being i can not do nethin for my fellow humankinds but just seat before tv n watch them. This repeated terrorist attack signals out message to all that ‘any xyz people on name of terrorist can spread violence & make victims to innocent people tomorow even any one of u or me if desires then attack anywhere coz nobody is there to bother or see this is mockery on our nation & on our security system n the way we run d nation .for politicians it is like a kid game half of them are uneducated or too old or criminal n we r votin them to rule on us? i m so taken away by this incident that now i m condemning democracy we dont deserve this coz we have not valued it i wish we should be under militery rule or democrates atlast there will be promise of safety.i truly wish that all our politicians should personally gone throgh terrorist attack they should be threaten ,should b made hostage n their member or they should be killed then they will realise the pain.this is the right medium i got where i can raise my voice & show the anger .If u r commanmen n readin me on this blog then plz b aware of ur rights we have right to query govt on anythin tomorow even i or u can b a victim of this & the least we can do is know your rights & take them into action & if there is any politician ,police or other enforcement agencies who is readig me then i have a msg for u plz ‘Do ur job correctly for d sake of huminity’. & at last i want to pay tributes to all our my brave countrymen soldiers who fought this battle courageously & while doin so lost their lives . i truely love u & respect u & the victims who have lost their life god bless them all.
Why to exclude those poor Hindus, Sikhs and Christians who are really marginalised. In the name of ‘Merit’ a few of Indians have all the things and for them India has been shinning as well. In fact most of the Indians are marginialised and another fact is that by percetage Muslims are the most, so logicaly those who claim that Muslims are marginalised is true. Another truth is that minorities are appeased in India but is partially true as nobody seems to bother when chuches come up and suddenly it becomes hitoric as well as heritage (how long it took us to do the same for Taj and what we did to the Moti Masjid and tried to do to Jama Masjid of Dehli), so are the Majority, Hindus, they are allowed to break law selectively, viz during the Darga Puja and Ganapathi Pujja, Nawarathra etc, creating all the annual pollution during those days, making mockery of the very law we worked on and praise ourselves for.
Naqqaad
I did not get ur point about marginalising. Are u saying ki sabhi musalmano ko Hindu-o ne haath pakar ke kaam (government, military, police…) karne se roka huya hai? Kya humne Muslims ko parane se mana kiya hai? Please go and find out in 100 crores population how many educated upper caste Hindus are there? There are many upper caste well-to-do Hindus who are themselves not enough educated nor educate their girls out of choice. Now put these educated Hindus versus all the marginalised minorites… This country is full of marginalised minorities who taken together form a majority! There are many who have the chance not to be marginalised, lets first target them to contribute.
As far as Durga Puja etc are concerned, while law was in making the law-makers were aware of the pollution it creates, especially Diwali. Steps have been taken at least in Delhi were people are asked to limit the time they burn crackers and it has worked to a great extent. However is this annual pollution level greater than a days pollution due to burning of fuels? Or are you asking us not to celebrate? If ur point was about control, than it is well taken. But do not make unnecessary comments. But I do agree over the pollution issue minus the ridicule in ur voice.
Nilanjana,
Below is comments taken from times site. yes our hands are not tied but systematically eliminated from the ruling class. for more details check this site http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1862650-1,00.html
The roots of Muslim rage run deep in India, nourished by a long-held sense of injustice over what many Indian Muslims believe is institutionalized discrimination against the country’s largest minority group. The disparities between Muslims, who make up 13.4% of the population, and India’s Hindus, who hover at around 80%, are striking. There are exceptions, of course, but generally speaking, Muslim Indians have shorter life spans, worse health, lower literacy levels and lower-paying jobs. Add to that toxic brew the lingering resentment over 2002′s anti-Muslim riots in the state of Gujarat. The riots, instigated by Hindu nationalists, killed some 2,000 people, most of them Muslims. To this day, few of the perpetrators have been convicted.