Updated: No, I don’t think the saffron brigade is behind the attacks nor I was alluding to that in my original post. I leave conspiracy theories to my friends who can always concoct one that includes USA, UK, Israel, Jews, Sangh Parivar, Neo-cons and the Western Media. There is one email already doing the rounds. As a matter of fact it is immaterial what I think in view of the tragedy that is unfolding. At least 100 innocent Indians are dead when they were just going about their business. Many more are feared dead. Some are still hostage to the terrorists. These are real people and the families of those who are dead will have to live their entire lives with their immense loss.
Death of Hemant Karkare, sad indeed, raises some questions on the preparedness of ATS in handling such situations. A lot of other details are still unclear and the accounts are changing by the hour. We can always dissect the issue later. Instead let us take this moment to mourn the victims of these terror attacks whose only crime was to be a citizens of a country whose government seems utterly incapable of protecting its own people.
Original Post: In concerted terror attacks in Mumbai, at least 80 people have been killed.
At least seven high-profile locations were hit in India’s financial capital, including two luxury hotels where hostages were reported to be held.
A fire is sweeping through the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai’s most famous hotel which is now ringed by troops. Police said four suspected terrorists have been killed and nine arrested. The situation is still confused but the main train station, a hospital, a restaurant and as well as the two hotels are among those places caught up in the violence.
There are reports of gunfire and explosions taking place elsewhere in the city. [BBC News]
Head of Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) probing the Malegaon blasts was also killed in the attack. Sadhvi Pragya is one of the prime accused in Malegaon blasts amongst others. An unidentified person threatened to kill the ATS chief two days back on phone.
Three top Mumbai police officers, including two from the Anti-Terrorism Squad, were killed in Wednesday night’s terror attack on the financial capital, top police sources confirmed to rediff.com.
ATS chief Hemant Karkare — who was investigating the Malegaon blast case, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte and noted encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and were killed in an incident outside Mumbai’s Cama hospital, ATS sub-inspector Sudhir Dalvi, who was part of the operation led by the deceased, told rediff.com over phone. [Rediff.com]
Most of the details of this terrible tragedy are still unclear but one thing is clear – abject failure of the UPA government to rein in terror.
Image: BBC News
Naveen,
At a legal level, Pragya and Purohit can still be treated as innocent, since no trial or conviction has happened. However, there is a huge body of evidence that points to their complicity.
My point is very simple. When proceedings against Afzal Guru were on, no one intervened. So why should anybody for Pragya and Purohit?
Milind
Probably because Pragya and Purohit were not arrested on the spot! However u r right that there should not be political pressure. But what I am saying call it a saffron attack but do not put name to it so fast. Actually I will prefer we use Dayanand’s name but so far it seems Pragya and Purohit are fabricated. When Afzal’s proceeding was on correct me if I am wrong Kashmiri Muslims did intervene.
Nilanjana,
Kashmiri Muslims cannot be treated as being representative of all Indian Muslims. The situation there, and therefore the reactions, are very different.
I am sure you will appreciate.
Milind
I am not equating Kashmiri Muslims with others. My point was of support and intervention.
But sadly, how step-brotherly we are towards J&K. J&K faces this situation every day and we are untouched, unmoved. Whatever the reasons for it over there or here, we have been unfair to J&K
REFUGEES
There are lot of refugees in Colaba itself, mainly Bangladeshis. We do know that Bangladesh is involved in terror attacks in India (e.g. Assam blast in October). India needs to deal with strict hands. They come here and marry the local Muslims and even Hindus (mainly in not so Muslim populated areas like Delhi), and become Indian citizens. They care less about marriage or this country and more about making money at any cost. Once they have ration card and even otherwise, they freely cross border and visit Bangladesh and come back with more of their stock. There are so many agents who help them get ration cards, cross border and even get visas so that they can travel to Muslim countries like Oman and all for work. I am sure these people who are well aware of the locality (where they stay in India) have little or no attachment with this country. I am sure they fall pray to bribery and help terrorists. Even otherwise, they are burden on our nation. SO REFUGEES MUST BE OUT.
Similarly, I do not understand why the hell are we tolerating Tibetans. Tomorrow they too will demand a Tibetanland like Gorkhaland. Darjeeling is up for a toss and soon will be Himachal Pradesh. Soon we will have them hands joined with Naxalites. There are people in Assam who can stop feeling proud of being of Chinese Stock. Why do they not cross border to the Chinese and see well f***ed they are there. Please do not compare them with illegal immigrants to other countries where they work to make their life and are in no way a burden to those countries.
What all do we not have here – Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nepalis, Bhutanese, Burmese, Tibetans… It is will be an important step to throw them out of this country to help fight terrorism and naxalism. Moreover we must have strict VISA rules.
The home minister of the country resigns home minister for state resigns chief minister resigns by that logic the Prime minister should resign.
Also the NSG which walked in the following morning were late and come under the direct control of the PM’s office so he should resign.
All this happens and Ministers who have a moral responsibility have to resign. But the Mumbai police commissioner who has direct responsibility of the matter stays put and no one has even asked for his resignation
And Lalu he’s the railway minister right? Well there was a massacre at CST. He didn’t provide adequate security for its commuters how come he hasn’t resigned?
If we are getting rid of honest politicians like Mr RR Patil and Mr. Shivraj Patil
who take responsibility for their actions. Then let the spineless ones follow in
My point is again very simple, Milind. Why shouldn’t anyone intervene on behalf of Pragya and Purohit? Are the BJP and Sangh Parivar guilty of destruction of evidence? If they are not, I don’t see why they can’t voice their opinions loudly. Didn’t the professional HR activists voice their opinions about Afzal’s case during and in the aftermath of the trial?
I see red flags being raised about this case just because of BJP intervention. Thats a pathetic state of affairs that a recognized political party can’t even voice its opinions while “civil society representatives” can do so without restrictions.
I don’t see any article on Indian Muslims asking for the law to take its own course in Pragya’s case and that Afzal be hanged now that he’s convicted. Isn’t this selective support of issues?
Naveen,
When an interrogation is on, there should be no intervention. Once the matter comes up before the court, you can then use whatever legal remedy you want.
As far as Afzal Guru is concerned, he has already been pronounced guilty. It is now for the admoinistration to do the needful speedily.
We salute all our heroes who sacrificed their live in mumbai terror attack!
I salute each and every officer who gave his life for our country and it’s people that he loved so much.
I would like to offer my condolences to the families of all our security forces and all the people who lost their lives in the Mumbai attacks.
Our heroes shall never be forgotten and will always be lights shining in our lives and in our hearts.
God bless everyone.
Jai Hind! Vande Mataram.
Margo Selvan
A True Indian and proude to be indian.
http://margoneem.wordpress.com