A month after 26/11, Mumbai limping back to normalcy

MUMBAI: A month after the audacious 26/11 terror attacks, which claimed over 170 lives, Mumbaikars are trying to move on even as memories of those three fateful days, when the city was held to ransom by terrorists, still continue to haunt them.

"It feels as if the attacks happened yesterday. The horrifying incidents cannot be forgotten so soon, although politicians feel that people have a short memory," said K C Mulani, President of Lions Club chapter in suburban Bandra.

Enraged citizens came out on streets in large numbers to express their resentment against politicians and solidarity to families of those killed during the 59-hour ordeal, sending a strong message against the ruling class.

The attacks claimed 'political' victims as well. Shivraj Patil had to quit as Union home minister while Vilasrao Deshmukh and R R Patil resigned as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively.

"The public pressure, like in the form of protests held at the Gateway of India has forced politicians to be accountable," said filmmaker Ashok Pandit, who participated in various such agitations.

"Also, in the terror siege of luxury hotels, the rich were the victims and the attacks this time attracted a lot of attention, compared to the serial train blasts two years ago when most of the victims were common people," he said.

Mumbai also lost some of its finest officers to the terror strikes.

Eighteen policemen and security personnel including ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of police Ashok Kamte and inspector Vijay Salaskar laid down their lives, besides NSG commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who died battling the terrorists.

The devastating attacks also cast a shadow on festivals. Special prayers for the victims and a somber mood marked the much-subdued Bakri-Eid and Christmas in the city.

"It (Christmas) was a low key affair. We only distributed sweets to our neighbours and conducted prayers. There was no party and no dance," Robin Viegas of suburban Kalina said.

Meanwhile, in the backdrop of enhanced awareness about security, checking of vehicles and frisking of suspicious persons have become a common feature.

Police say they are doing everything possible to restore public confidence. "One can see a large number of armed policemen on the city streets. Big establishments and housing societies are being given security tips," said K Venkatesham, Additional Commissioner of Police (South).

Mumbai police claims to have made 'excellent progress' in the terror attack probe, much of their leads coming from Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested in connection with the strikes.
"We will get to the root of the conspiracy," said Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor.

However, Mumbai's "never say die" attitude meant it was soon business as usual for Taj Mahal Hotel and Trident, which reopened within three weeks of the attacks.

The hospitality majors, the most affected in the terror strikes, threw open its doors to the public on December 21.

Leopold Cafe, the first to be targeted by terrorists, re-opened within a fortnight of the incident.

On November 26, 10 terrorists, who landed on Mumbai's shore in a rubber dinghy, also targeted two prominent hotels, the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji rail terminus and a Jewish community centre in south Mumbai.

Investigators have so far "established" that the terrorists, hailing from Pakistan and affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, planned these attacks before they set sail from Karachi to Mumbai, using latest communication and navigation devices. They hijacked a Gujarat-based fishing vessel before reaching Mumbai.