By Himanshu Guru: A proud and indebted nation pays tribute to the 26/11 martyrs today on the fourth anniversary of the fateful attack on Mumbai. Four years back on the 26th day of November, 166 people, including foreign nationals, were killed and over 300 people were injured by a heavily armed attack launched by a 10-members team of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists backed by Pakistan.
On this fourth anniversary of the dreadful event, the main commemorative function was held at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana at the ‘Chowpatty’ this morning, where a memorial for the 26/11 has been built to commemorate the frightful event. Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil, Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh and family members of the martyrs paid floral tributes in memory of the victims of the attack there.
While Mumbaikars and the family members of the victims of the attack had demanded justice during the commemorative functions held in last the years, this time they have thanked the government for hanging Ajmal Kashab, the last survivor of the 10 members attacking team of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. They said that by hanging the Pakistani national Kasab, Indian government has sent a strong message to the terrorists that the country will fight back to award death punishment to the terrorists who will dare to wage war against Mumbai as well as the country during the function. Security has been beefed up in the city to avoid any repulsive behavior, as Kasab has been hanged just five days before.
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A peace march was also held in Mumbai where Union Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor, Bollywood actor Mahima Chaudhary and US national Kia Scherr, who lost her husband and daughter in the 26/11 attacks, took part along with a number of people from politics and entertainment field. During her address, Kia Dilisek expressed her gratitude to the city for giving her emotional support to her personal loss.
Events are also going on at places like Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, Hotel Trident, Nariman House and Leopold Cafe, which were targeted by the terrorists during the 26/11 attack.
On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistani terrorists held Mumbai hostage after sneaking into the city through the Arabian Sea and landing at Colaba. Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive after the 60-hour attack, was hanged till death in Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail on 21st November 2012. It was the worst terrorist attack in the history of India after independence.
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