MUMBAI UNDER SEIGE…
My heart goes out to each and every person and their near and dear ones who have been taken hostage or trapped in those buildings after more than a day. The feeling of death lurking around the corner surely is making a day seem like eternity for the hostages. Try hard as one might, one cannot empathize with the family members of those held inside these buildings. Imagine repeatedly being shown ghastly images of various parts of the building set afire, not to mention instances of hand grenades being thrown and to top it all successive shots of firing , fully aware that your loved one is somewhere inside probably battling for his/her life….
It’s 2.30 am now and all I can do is think of what has been taking place since the past day. Sources now state to have found the abandoned trawler that the terrorists allegedly used to travel from Porbunder and the owner of the ship.Yeahh….. That really really helps us all….. Unofficial reports claim that the fisher folk repeatedly told the police about certain suspicious men a day or two before.Yet their claims fell on deaf ears. This is one plea that cost us the lives of 130 people (including 4 top cops and 15 constables) and injured 350 others…… AND STILL COUNTING……..
Could someone please tell me what the coastguards who are supposed to patrol the coasts of India, the Navy and the anti terrorism squads do all day? Certainly they do not do their job controlling the waters of our long and extensive coastal areas. In which other country do you think that terrorists could waltz in landing at one of the most central areas of one of the most important cities unnoticed? Also this method had allegedly been used even during the 1993 blasts by the Lashkar- e –toiba… don’t you think this was sheer ignorance on part of the NAVY and the ATS?????
We all know that Mumbai is a high risk centre for terrorism. Time and again there have been bomb blasts-be it in buses or trains or in crowded bazaars or parked cars .Yet there is no cohesive plan to subvert this danger. The Indian government that spends crores and crores on defense is totally unprepared and ill equipped to deal with terrorism in any form whatsoever. Our policing forces are arrogant and undisciplined, incompetent and unaware that vigilance must be carried out systematically and that intelligence agencies must immediately inform the action teams. I am sure all of us have repeatedly seen as to how callous and complacent some of our top officials were when informed about the attacks which eventually led to their end (lets not get into details folks)..
India has been attacked in the holiest of holies- the Parliament. Still there is little awareness or strict regulations regarding visitors. From my personal experience let me tell you that not once have I been frisked at any mall or multiplex, while my elder sibling has been, just because he is a man while I am a female. I am sure you would have the same story to narrate. So tomorrow if any female member of Mujahedeen blows herself up killing 50 people, it shall be the breaking news of the day. Sadly such is the state of affairs …..
3.00 Am- News is that the worst is yet to come. What beats me is how can a group of 20 something terrorists function non stop even after 28 hours?? Surely there are bound to be some mistakes…
I change the news channel only to see or rather hear the lack luster and robotic speech by our PM. Although it is heartening to see our PM and his opposition travel together, yet at what cost? Don’t our politicians have that much sense to stay out during such times and let the armed forces do their job instead of coming over and garnering public sympathy and VOTES and most importantly Z SECURITY??? Should the forces stick to providing them security or performing their duty when the city needs them???
Enough is enough.Just because we are resilient doesn’t mean that any tom, dick and harry can join forces and blow up places of national heritage holding people at ransom...It’s high time the MP’s and MLA’s realize the fact that the city needs security more than they do.. Else national security may well become the cause of urban insecurity…… Just listen to the way the home minister and chief minister reacted! I felt like kicking them in their *****. Instead of calling for stringent measures for securitization and reassuring people all they can think about is the no of terrorists that came to colaba via a trawler is unconfirmed!!! WTF maan!
Would they have reacted in the same casual manner had a few of the MP’s /MLA’s been held hostage or killed???? To hell with them I say... It’s high time we take things into our hands. As a future citizen of tomorrow I implore you all earnestly to be more vigilant and elect the right people. Many of us out there aren’t holders of election cards. Please do ensure that the right people; people like Narendra Modi; who can do something actually rather than just smart talk are elected.
Isn’t it ironic that the only ones who do not know this are the ones whose job it is to prevent this? Thousands die due to utter indifference, incompetence and sheer negligence from the forces that are employed to "protect" the country.Time and again we have been hurt ,yet limped back to normalcy in a few days.. I say lets all do something on a war footing to ensure better national security even if it is at the cost of one's privacy.Let concentration camps be raided and shoot at sight orders be given.Lets ensure that topics like goodwill and peace form a part and parcel of children's daily lessons .Let us join forces and learn to combat against terror....
Else i fear that this could just be the start of many more crippling attacks to come.......
WOW! the angst and concern is very well articulated. Unlike the nuke deal debate, I cannot agree more on the points you have made.
ReplyDeletethnks da...hwz u and hwz ur studies shaping up??
ReplyDeleteu knw i had been 2 mulund 2day...the panic in the eyes of evryone was unmistakeable.......
excellently written.m with u on this like every other mumbaikar.we need 2 take things in ur own hands as u rightly say.nd people like narendra modi definitely would do a better job..just dont get 2 vocal re else u may need z security..!!
ReplyDeleteReading your blog leaves me thinking...the state of mind we are in leaves us with a mind of revenge. Rightly so, given a chance I would like to put a bullet in the head of the terrorists themselves. There are a few points however to consider about the lack of security.
ReplyDeleteThe boat that was attacked was reportedly stolen and used for entering mumbai. As is apparent the coast is not so well guarded. The terrorists did not bring in all the equipment with them. They had just few arms. Most of the ammunition was already smuggled days or a month before the attack. A room was filled with explosives and guns day by day which was used to carry on a 48 hours+ fight. Gujarat intelligence had already informed Maharashtra about these forces but no action was apparently taken. That is a serious lapse of security. I would not blame the police men on duty since what can you do with a stick when you are facing an AK47 spraying bullets. One thing to notice is that these terrorists were not any 20 year old just barnishing guns and playing with grenades. These were highly trained militants up to the caliber of the commandos who were fighting them. They knew the hotel so well and this was indeed a planned attack which could trace back to months or years. Two militants had booked rooms in the Taj and every day their friends came with bags filling up a room full of explosives and arms. A 5-star hotel usually never checks the luggage of guests for customer service. This has resulted in serious lapses and loss of many lives. Although the intelligence was lacking in this situation blaming them entirely isn't what needs to be done. This was a carefully chalked out plan with all necessary steps taken with the prime objective of hurting the heart of India. Such incidents should be dealt with severely and we should be as ruthless as they are.
I also suspect this was a plot to route out the ATS chief since he was making headway into the Malegaon blasts case. A carefully planned and executed attack to crumple life in Mumbai.
My heart goes out to the bereaved families and their loved ones and tribute and salute to the brave soldiers who gave their lives protecting ours.
GOD BLESS
@ vidya
ReplyDeleteI am fine, studies are goin ok.
u no longer stay in mulund?
I guess never before have mumbaikars taken so long to recuperate this time the scar is sever than never before!