And for a Friday after the 10th Anniversary of 26/11….. some thoughts….. some musings…..
The least I could do was to travel to Mumbai and pay homage to all the Martyrs who laid down their lives to keep us Mumbaikars and the citizens of India safe, fearless and enjoy the hard won Freedom of our Country. Every year PCGT organises the memorial. Our Chief Guest – Rahul Bose, Chairman – Julio Riberio, Cofounder – Dr.Anand, all paid rich tributes. Listening to them and the tunes of Symphony Orchestra of India, I had flashes of that fateful night – TajMahal Hotel Dome burning, staff of Taj, Oberoi and Trident who died saving the Guests, NSG Commandos, Fire Fighters, Police, the fear and then the Relief when all was over.
At Mumbai’s Chowpatty ordinary Mumbaikars – Muslims, Hindus, Christians – all could be seen offering flowers and bowing their heads and saluting Constable Tukaram Doble’s Statue. Constable Doble arrested a fully armed AK-47 wielding terrorist – Ajmal Kasab, with his Bare Hands. First time in the World a Hardcore trained Terrorist was caught Alive. Chabad House in Colaba where Rabbi Gavriel Hotzberg and wife were shot dead and their Son, two year old Moshe saved by his Maid, is now a Museum. Renamed Nariman Light House, on the 6th floor on Aluminium Panels, names of all the 176 people who were killed by the Terrorists that night are inscribed.
As Mumbai Police Commissioner Subodh Jaiswal assured us, significant steps have been taken in improving our Intelligence Systems, Processes, training methods and preparedness. Under the CCTNS, all 14,710 Police stations across India are now connected to the Central Data Base. Let us all help build a Strong Unified India, the Legal way, the Ethical way, the SEEGOS way.