When there were spate of bomb blast in other parts of India, I was
expecting that it was just a matter of time that India’ premier
financial capital Mumbai would come under terror attack. But I had
never expected that this time the magnitude of attack would be so
massive in terms of duration of attack and death tolls. This time
it wasn’t setting off time bombs in busy market places or
institutions. They chose the sea route to come to Mumbai and launch
a land attack. On Wednesday night the television had breaking news
that guns shot were heard in CST station and at Leopold café (beer
parlor frequented by foreigners). It was assumed that it might be
underworld gang war. On knowing that similar attack had taken place
in Taj hotel, Trident Oberoi , and western suburbs it became clear
what we were seeing was terrorist attacks.
I interviewed SS Mishra who owns a restaurant inside CST and was eye
witness to the terrorist attack. He said it was around 10 pm that he
heard sound of gun shots. He saw two men, in their twenties with
rucksack on their back, had AK 47 in their hands. They were firing
indiscriminately at the passengers who were waiting at the terminus
for boarding trains to their respective destinations. He and his
employees ducked under the table while bullets were flying all over
the place. He with his men managed to escape towards the kitchen.
After half an hour when the firing stopped they stepped out. what he
saw was simply horror. The area was a pool of blood with dismembered
bodies lying all over. They rushed the injured to the nearby St
George hospital.
At Taj hotel a fierce gun battle had taken place for over 60 hours
leaving large number of deaths including many foreign tourists. Most
of them were taken hostages and lined up against the room wall and
fired at, killing them cold-bloodedly. The same happened at Trident
hotel. At Nariman house a Jew family and some members were tortured
killed brutally.
I spoke to Indian born British national Sir Ghulam Noon a well known
businessman known as Curry King in London. He was staying at in the
night of 26/11 when the terrorist entered Taj hotel and began mowing
down visitors ruthlessly. He was lucky to remain inside his room
before he was rescued by the firemen.
In all more than 183 people lost their lives and left 300 people
injured. The people of Mumbai is very angry and venting it out in
television interviews and taking out protest march and candle light
vigil.
I was interviewed by Radio Pakistan live via my cell about the
terror attack. They were keen to project that it was Deccan
Mujahedeen group from India who had carried out the attack. I told
them that one of the terrorist has been caught alive and from his
confession all evidence points out to Pakistan, that was when the
interview was stopped quite abruptly.
When terror attack was this magnitude and brutality take place some
head from the government has to roll. India’s Home minister Shivraj
Patel and Maharashtra home minster RR Patil has resigned. The chief
minister is on his way out.
I had covered the three days events
with my camera and bring you the documentary of images of Terror
attack in Mumbai.
