The city of Mumbai is slowly recovering from the terrible shock of the Wednesday gone by. Many of the dead have been buried. Families and friends of those who lost their lives in the Mumbai siege are slowly coming to terms with the reality. The firing is over but the lives of Mumbaikers transformed forever.
This is the time to pray for the deceased souls and a time to remember the brave people who saved many. Some of those brave men are lucky to be alive today, othere were not so lucky.
Hemant Karkare- The moment the ATS chief heard of the attack he took his constable’s helmet, wore a bullet proof jacket, took a service revolver, and headed straight to face the terrorists. This one act summarise the brave man who never shied from his duty under any sort of circumstances. The 58 year old IPS officer was well informed and a vociferous reader as shared by Hassan Ghafoor, the Commisioner of Mumbai police, on NDTV.
Though his death is in no way related to the Sadhvi Pragya case but he did receieve death threats in connection with the same. A man of few words when questioned about the death threats to his life, he just gave a smile. The smile will live on as the brave man’s name will.
Ashok Kamte- A product of St Xavier’s College, Bombay, he was the additional commissioner of Mumbai Police. Kamte also served in the United Nations peace-keeping police force. He also represented the country at the junior power-lifting championship in Peru in 1978. During the communal riots in Karad, Maharashtra, he himself led the police lathicharge. He was again in the midst of action on the fateful wednesday, 26th November 2008, only to die in the line of duty.
Vijay Salaskar- The encounter specialist who reportedly killed around 75 dreaded criminal was heading the anti-extortion wing of the crime branch. He joined the police force as a sub inspector. He once said in an interview, “In a shootout, no one has time for niceties. Either you kill or you get killed. I am plain lucky to still be alive.” He was until this wednesday.
Salaskar yearned for recognition and official acclaim during his life. He got it all but a trifle too late.
Karambir Singh Kang- The general manager of Taj Mahal Hotel lost everything in the hotel he worked for. His wife and two sons aged 14 and 5 perished as a result of asphyxiation in the hotel. Inspite of all this he stayed back to help those stuck in the hotel.
CST railway staff- The scene at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus could have been even more dreadful had it not been the proactiveness of the railway staff. The staff at the inquiry desk used the public address system repeatedly to warn people from using the front gate, and instead use the last gate. They were lucky enough to survive the bullets.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan- An NSG commando, Unnikrishnan was an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He was the only son of an ISRO official. Coming from the Bihar regiment to the NSG, his sacrifice should also give Mr Raj Thakery a reason for some serious introspection of his policies.
Gajender Singh- A hawaldar with the NSG, Singh also lost his life fighting the terrorists. He was a member of NSG’s 51 Special Action Group.
Mumbai Fire brigade- The firemen of Mumbai had to brave both fire and bullets to rescue lives, something they never experienced before. Their services were even used by the NSG commandoes to gain access to the Taj hotel.
The list is not exhaustive. There are many others whose names don’t figure but their sacrifice is equally commendable.
Radical Islam is agreatest threat we are confronting today,there is no doubt about it.Religion has always been used to crush progressive movements,movements against injustice,oppression,explotation,socio-economic inequalities.
Jihad was introduced in in its present form,senseless and mindless killing.which is antithesis of Jehad if we go by Quranic Injunctions,by Americans.Afghanistan was a fertile ground to sow seeds of terrorism in the name of Jihad.Osama bin Laden was indoctrined by CIA,ISI and Saudi Intelligence and sent to Afghanistan.I am surprised why it did not occur to Osama that all at a sudden why Saudi establishment grew so much sympathy for Afghans.?In the past Saudis never came to help Afghanistan which always faced a devastating poverty.The reasons for this new found love must have been clear to Osama;it was American interests in that region which turned Saudis pious Jihadis overnight.
To late Zia-ul-Haque ,a Karzai of Pakistan at that period of time,it was a god-send opportunity to establish and legitimise his oppressive regime by joining gang of American-saudi thugs.We all know what happened later on.Those Afghan who,in the words of madman of the millinium,Ronald regan,were equalent of founding fathers of US,became more dreaded terrorists after demise of Soviet Union.
Radical Islam,which is misnomer for terror,can not be fought with the help of Americans.International terrorists would like radical islam to spread as its suits imperial designs of US imperialists and Zionists.Radical Islam should not be treated as an isolated phenoma;its part of axis of evil which is:American imperialism,Zionism and Radical Islam.
@ Milind Kher
Refer your last quotes “Muslims need to get into condemning terrorists” you may question to all muslims, I cannot reply on behalf of muslims! why ?
Regarding your quranic and Hadith knowledge, it was completely based on search engine, you are always quoting quranic aayas and hadith, which does not match the situation, you are always quoting incomplete ! we do not requrie your unnecessary and unwanted quote furthermore, unless someone ask to proof – understand !
Note : The present problem which we are discusssing is not concerning hindu/muslims, it is our problem of all Indian regardless of Hindu or Muslims, so don’t try to communalise the issue !
An Indian,
My knowledge is NOT based on search engines. It is based on hardcore READING that has been put in for several years.
The views that I have expressed are in perfect consonance with what many of the Muslim intellectuals I interact with feel. A lot of Non Muslims I know have begun to see Islam in a much better light through interaction with me. It is a democratic country, and I have the right to express myself and you have the right to reject what I say.
Note: I do not want to communalize any issue. Members of all communities are equal citizens of India, and have equal rights, which I uphold. As a matter of fact, at the human level we are all obliged to live in peace and cooperation with each other irrespective of caste, color or creed.
Tariq,
You are very correct when you say that we should not bank on anybody else in our fight against terrorism. India is a very strong nation in its own right, and once we Indians put our minds to it, there is nothing we cannot do.
Look at the Bharti ad and you will find the terrific contributions Indians have made to the world. In addition, we have produced brilliant rulers like Sher Shah Suri, Shivaji and many more. On the economic front, India is making giant strides, and if the monster of terrorism can be fought off, the sky is the limit.
Jai Hind
@ Milind Kher,
Every one have right to express the things but by using Islam and misquoting the things, others will carry equal right to handle the things in right and civilized manners.
An Indian,
I honestly do not want to get into any munazireh. I am happy with my personal Islamic library (I just ADORE those books, really don’t need search engines) as well as all the majalis (plural of majlis)I attend where we have excellent zakirs, maulanas and even an occassional hojatoleslam. And I am very content listenng to soul stirring marcias and nouhas.
With immediate effect, I have ceased to argue with you.