Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 26: On the anniversary of Mumbai Terror attacks that took place on November 26, 2008, the Kashmir centric political groups could be found with their lips sealed preferring not to even eulogise the supreme sacrifices rendered by the brave hearts that day.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks (also referred to as 26/11) were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an extremist Islamist organisation based in Pakistan, carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.The dreadful night of 26/11 has been etched in the memories of Mumbaikars.The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday 26 November and lasted until Saturday 29 November 2008. At least 174 people died, including 9 attackers, and more than 300 were wounded.
Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College.
There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai's port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle. By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces. On 29 November, India's National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers; it culminated in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and ended the attacks.
Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving attacker, disclosed that the attackers were members of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, among others. On 9 April 2015, the foremost ringleader of the attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was released on bail and disappeared. In 2018, former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif suggested that the Pakistani government played a role in the 2008 Mumbai attack.
Meanwhile, when 12 years have passed since that dreadful incident occurred and the entire nation was seen paying homage to those who lost their lives, the Kashmir centric mainstream groups are maintaining a criminal silence, revealing how little do they care for such gruesome chapters of history. “Whatever these mainstream groups are, are because of the nation. If they would have felt a little bit of pain deep down in their hearts over he precious loss of lives in Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks, they would have for sure uttered the words of commiseration and would have paid tributes to those who were martyred that day. But no.
They must have enough time for politics but no time for real patriotism,” says a social media user while slamming the silence of Kashmir’s mainstream parties including national conference and PDP and other political groups who have formed a conglomerate called Gupkar alliance. |
