26/11 is now marked as a dark day in India’s history as Mumbai was hit by a series of terrorist attacks in November 2008, which lasted for four days. Sunday will mark fourteen years since twelve coordinated shootings and bombings took place at iconic locations around the world. city, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Oberoi Trident and Taj Palace and Tower, among others.
On the last day of the attack, on November 29, 2008, the National Security Guards (NSG) carried out Operation Tornado to clear terrorists from the Taj Hotel. A total of 166 people, including foreigners and security personnel, were killed in the attack, while nine terrorists linked to Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were shot and the remaining ten – Kasab – were taken into custody. He was convicted and sentenced to death and later hanged on November 21, 2012.
Here is a timeline of the events that took place on the fateful day:
November 26, 2008: Ten young men, “controlled” from Pakistan, arrive in Mumbai from Karachi on speedboats. They quickly dispersed, with two terrorists entering the Trident, two to the Taj and four to Nariman House.
Kasab and another terrorist, Ismail Khan, storm Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and start firing indiscriminately, causing panic and death. These two then head to Cama Hospital, where they ambush and kill six police officers, including Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar and then Anti-Terror Squad chief Hemant Karkare.
They hijack the jeep and try to flee, but are intercepted by the police. Kasab is captured, while Khan is killed during the gunfight. Another police officer dies.
On this day, images of smoke billowing from the Taj Hotel kept the city in panic and are seared into the memories of Mumbai residents and Indians across the country.
Two of the four terrorists, Abdul Rehman Bada and Abu Ali, reach the main entrance after planting a crude RDX bomb in front of a police post. They are armed with AK-47s, ammunition and grenades. They begin shooting indiscriminately as they make their way to the lobby.
Shoaib and Umer, two more terrorists, enter the hotel through another door and start shooting at guests by the pool. Four foreigners are shot dead, as well as a security guard, Ravindra Kumar and his dog.
Around midnight, Mumbai police surround the hotel as guests cram into small rooms in an attempt to save their lives. Around 1 a.m., the hotel’s central dome is bombed, sending plumes of smoke rising from the building.
November 27, 2008: The next day, army soldiers and naval commandos surround the Taj, Trident and Nariman House. There were reports of further shots even as terrorists set fire to a room on the fourth floor of the hotel.
November 28, 2008: Commandos complete their operations at the Trident and Nariman House.
November 29, 2008: The NSG is called in and destroys the remaining terrorists at the Taj Hotel in Operation Tornado. The attackers inside are killed during the operation. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was shot while rescuing commando Sunil Yadav, while Sergeant Gajendra Singh Bisht was killed during the Nariman House operation during a prolonged gunfight.
In memory of the braves of the Mumbai terror attacks
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an NSG commando, upheld the Indian Army’s motto of service before self while fighting the terrorists at the Taj Hotel. He had entered the hotel with a force of 10 commandos and managed to engage the perpetrators in a firefight. “Don’t come up, I will deal with them,” were probably the last words Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan said to his men when he was hit by gunfire while engaging terrorists in the hotel.
The government later awarded him an Ashoka Chakra for his bravery.
Tukaram Omble
Tukaram Omble, who served as an assistant sub-inspector in the Mumbai Police, is the reason Ajmal Kasab was arrested.
On 26/11, he and his team were guarding one of the checkpoints when they were approached by two terrorists in a hijacked car. After an initial exchange of fire, one of the terrorists died in the car, while the other, Ajmal Kasab, got out of the car and lay down to pretend to surrender. When an unarmed Omble approached him, Kasab stood up and tried to open fire. Omble stood in front of him and held the barrel of Kasab’s gun, preventing the bullets from hitting anyone but him. The rest of the team managed to overpower and arrest Kasab. Omble took more than 40 bullets from an AK-47 at close range and did not survive.
For his exceptional bravery, the government posthumously honored him with the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest award for peacetime gallantry.
Hemant Karkare
The Anti-Terrorist Squad chief was shot three times in the chest while fighting terrorists outside Cama Hospital in south Mumbai.
Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Rebeiro later said, “Karkare was one of the best police officers in Maharashtra and dare I say in India.”
Ashok Kamte
Ashok Kamte was serving as Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police, overseeing the eastern region, when he was killed in the terror attacks. He had offered his help during the attacks even though his area in the East Zone was not attacked.
He too was killed during clashes with terrorists in the narrow street between St Xaviers College and Rang Bhavan in south Mumbai.
Vijay Salaskar
Vijay Salaskar, an encounter specialist who led the anti-extortion cell, also lost his life while on duty during the Mumbai attacks. During interrogation, captured terrorist Ajmal Kasab admitted to killing Salaskar.
The government honored him with Ashoka Chakra on January 26, 2009 for his bravery.
Hawaldar Gajendra Singh
Hawaldar Gajendra Singh was among the NSG commandos who rappelled to the roof of Nariman House, where terrorists were holding at least six hostages. The team came under fire from the terrorists at the hostage situation. Some grenades were also hurled at commandos by terrorists. It was his ultimate sacrifice that helped the NSG team secure a dominant position in the encounter.
Israel’s step in the run-up to the commemoration of 26/11
Ahead of the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Israel has designated the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba as a “terrorist organization.”
Making the announcement, the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi said: “To symbolize the celebration of the 15th year of commemoration of the Mumbai terror attacks, the State of Israel has listed Lashkar-e-Taiba as a terrorist organization.”
“Despite no request from the Government of India, the State of Israel has formally completed all necessary procedures and complied with all required controls and regulations resulting in the introduction of Lashkar-e-Taiba to Israel’s list of illegal terrorist organizations. ,” it said.
Israel’s move comes at a time when it has asked India to ban Hamas as a terrorist organization. Last month, Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon, while interacting with journalists, said the time has come for India to ban Hamas as a terrorist organization, as many other countries have done.
The US, UK, European Union, Canada, Australia and Japan are among the countries and groups that have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.