Mumbai 26/11 - the nightmare ends, finally!

It has been almost 60 hours since this nightmare began and finally, it is over. Yes, the “cat-and-mouse” game has finally ended with the terrorists infecting the Taj Hotel being taken down by the Army, the National Security Guard(NSG) and the Navy Commandos, but only after a prolonged ordeal in which the “mice” caused severe damage, and in more than one way. People across the globe have been exposed to a face of terrorism not seen ever before, anywhere in the world, and I feel this event would have made people to sit up and think about the kind of situations they might find themselves trapped in. For this problem is prevalent globally and is a threat to each and everyone equally, whatever country or place one may be in. It is just an example of how terrorism is affecting countries, targeting people from all nationalities, communities or races equally. It also goes to warn us that if we fail to take active steps towards not just curbing but also eliminating terrorism completely, we can fall victims to similar events again, maybe even in worse forms.

This incident has left a deep impact not just on the people in India, but on those in countries across the globe. This episode showcased that given the state of things, people cannot feel safe anywhere, outside on the street and nor in their homes. The false sense of security we have all been accustomed to has been shaken. This event has raised several questions and has also led people to think of the possible threats one is exposed to each day, leave apart the worries of arranging 2 square meals a day, access to proper medical facilities and potable drinking water. People across the nation will have to get together and initiate change in our society, in our thought process and in the way we lead our life, every single day.Only when we are more aware and more conscious of our duties towards each other and towards the community will we be able to rebuild this lost faith.

We should take cue from this Indian version of America’s 9/11 which shook the very psyche of individuals across the globe and take prompt action against such acts and against people propagating or supporting such activities. We need to have a centralized agency capable of not just resolving such issues but one that has the power to preemptively work towards eliminating terrorism completely from the face of this planet. We need to have the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) of the United Nations to take a higher role in mobilizing forces of all countries and working towards identifying possible threats and eliminating groups indulging in or facilitating the development of such factions. It would also need to work towards recognizing channels which fund such activities and take actions to sever and subsequently deter such connections.

The current trauma in Mumbai lasted for duration much longer than I could have imagined and has left me with a mixed bag of emotions: some frustration, anger, sadness, respect, and a lot more. I am proud of the task force in the Mumbai’s 26/11 that tirelessly worked towards neutralizing the imminent threat and glad that the media was now more sensitive towards disclosing sensitive operational information, although only after being TOLD to practice restraint. I salute the brave commandos, the fire-fighters, medical staff, the Police and the members of the support groups who risked their life in this task. Most importantly, I applaud the staff from the Taj and Oberoi hotels who worked hand in hand with the security agencies, risking their own life in trying to make the guests safe. Moreover they never lost their cool amidst the trauma and pressure and assisted the agencies and the guests’ right till the end. The contribution of those who lost their life serving others in this tragedy can never be forgotten and the heroes will remain afresh and alive in our memories and in the stories people will tell each other of their acts of bravery.

I don’t think I have ever followed anything live on the media as closely as this event and I hope I don’t get to witness anything like this ever again in my life. I can now heave a sigh of relief that the people back home are now safe, at least for now, and hope that this event will prove crucial in establishing a common platform for nations to fight against terrorism and eliminating it altogether.

A night of terror: Mumbai under attack

Mumbai has become the target of inhumane acts of mindless individuals yet again, and this time in way much bigger than what we could have ever imagined. In this brazen act of violence, terrorists have come out in the open, catching the Indian intelligence and security agencies off-guard, in a city highly prone to such threats. In fact, I feel that such large cities are not even prepared to handle such high-risk, high-tension, high-casualty situations on their own. Besides, the absence of a central agency capable of responding promptly, promptly meaning acting within minutes or an hour,max., and not hours as has been the case usually, makes the citizens more vulnerable to such incidences.

I have been able to follow this unprecedented event for more than 12 hours now, since the time the first images of the incident started flashing in on all news channels. It is very unfortunate for the people of Mumbai to be caught in this ruthless act of vandalism indiscriminate firing leading to the loss of innocent lives for no apparent reason. I feel that terrorism has never been a result of a fight between communities, boundaries or ideas, but is the consequence of a conflict “within” individuals who have lost track of their life and have been led to commit such inhumane acts. It is not yet clear what the intention of this particular act was, but I guess it never is. It is all attributed to some lame excuse, to some unreasonable demand of some group of individuals who are blinded by un-realistic stories or ideas, oblivious of facts or logic, leading them to diverge from the “normal” population and commit such acts.

Having been glued to the "live-feeds" for this incident, just like millions of others across the globe, I don’t think I can sleep tonight, or till the time I feel that the threat has been subdued allowing the people to freely come out of their homes, or in fact feel safe in their homes itself. A lot has unfolded in the past 12 hours or so: lives lost, acts of bravery committed, people going out of their way to help each other, but at the same time, I found some acts of the certain “TRP hungry” groups, insensitive and irresponsible. I cannot believe having seen someone ask an injured person to wait and pose for the camera when he has been hit by a bullet right in front of the very same camera, instead of being offered medical help first. In fact, pulling the person out of the ambulance to show his wound “Live - First” is an act condemnable by all standards.

I found watching it all very frustrating, especially when I saw some irresponsible comments being made by the media, passing information out to the public, including the terrorists who would want to keep track of the actions being taken by the security agencies in response to their "radical" acts. I do not condemn the live coverage but I do feel that we could be more responsible in doing so, for this information is sensitive and might prove helpful to the terrorists as much as it is crucial for the security agencies and the public at large.

I hope that the state of things will improve soon, the situation being handled by professionals, both on the part of the security agencies and also for the media but I believe that had the NSG been more swift and prompt, things might have been in control by now. I don’t feel that the police are even equipped with the resources to handle such situations, leave aside the know-how or training, or powers required in such extraordinary circumstances.

The loss of lives has been immense and the effects of this event, both monetary and psychological, would be felt strongly in days to come. But with the NSG moving in, along with the army and RAF, in tandem with the police and support agencies, things seem to have improved but are not under control by any means. The areas have been cordoned off and media has been moved to a “safe” distance in national interests. Thankfully.

So, although we do not have access to “live” images of humans being killed, property being burnt, ethics and values being mocked and crushed, still I feel content that the people who should be taking care of things and who are capable of acting in such extreme situations are in fact doing their part very well and hopefully we would get to hear some positive news pretty soon. I am actually content with the occasional note of assurance from the top officials, people in charge of the situation, in this fragile situation and turn of events, although it gets a bit disheartening at times for I have been feeding on the continuous flow of this media for quite some time now.

I just wish the people fighting inside the establishments, the hotels: Taj, Oberoi, and Nariman house and in all the hospitals, fire stations, and the people helping out on the streets, all the luck and hope they can bring the city back to normal. I believe that the contribution of such heroic individuals as Hemant Karkare who selflessly risk their own life to make us safe and who lost their life fighting for us is what makes the difference in this fight against terror. This is what keeps the people motivated and the human spirit alive and resilient.

I want to sleep a good night’s sleep soon, content, and assured that people -friends, acquaintances and countrymen, are all safe and that these few psychotic souls cannot succeed in overcoming our spirits or scare us through their barbaric acts. I strongly condemn this act of the "terrorists" and I want these pests out of my house, as soon as possible, whatever it takes! Exterminated, preferably.