Friday, Nov 29, 2024 20:15 [IST]
Last Update: Thursday, Nov 28, 2024 14:41 [IST]
Pakistan has not reconciled itself to living with India as a peaceful and friendly neighbour. It has been attempting to create situations that pose serious and consistent challenges to India's internal security. Their evil designs have resulted in four unwanted wars.
Two developments: India aided independence of the erstwhile East Pakistan leading to creation of Bangladesh and Demolition of the Ram Janma Bhumi-Babri structure at Ayodhya re-ignited fire and hatred against India. Promotion of terrorism in India gradually became a significant national policy of Pakistan, irrespective of change in her political leadership.
Successive civilian and military regimes in Pakistan have been led by a misconceived and misconstrued notion that their strength, continuance and overall stability depends on their ability to spread the tentacles of state sponsored terrorism across their borders.
Bombay Blasts of 1993
The game plan of Pakistan to plan and execute activities to destabilise received further impetus when Ram Janma Bhumi- Babri structure was attacked and demolished on 6th December 1992. A well-planned strategy to divide and destabilize India was drawn by Pak I.S.I. Apart from attack on Hindu temples both in Pakistan and Bangladesh, communal riots were instigated and engineered in several parts of the country.
On 12th March, 1993, Bombay was rocked by serial bomb blasts leading to death of 257 innocent persons, serious injuries to about a thousand and destruction of public and private property worth crores of Rupees. Before country could recover from the shock of such a magnitude, almost simultaneous bomb blasts, once again planned and executed by ISI took place in several trains on 6th December, 1993(first anniversary of demolition of structure at Ayodhya).
Other Misdeeds by Pakistan
Several other acts of disturbance followed in nooks and corners of the country at regular intervals. Beant Singh, the C.M. of Punjab and 16 others were brutally killed in broad day light at Punjab Secretariat by a human bomb. New Delhi witnessed not less than 17 bomb blasts during 1997-98. Some other states of North India too could not remain unaffected by senseless violence perpetrated by Pakistan.
Training For Anti-national Activities
Intensive training for carrying out subversion and sabotage began to be organised by ISI for the disgruntled, ignorant and misguided youth residing in Punjab, J & K, North East as well as abroad. Leaders of Sikh and Kashmir militant outfits based in Pakistan also had to undergo rigorous training like other trainees. Regular supply of arms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices was ensured from across the border. ISI began spreading its network even in interior places so that it could motivate the Muslim youth in general and entrust them with specific tasks. Fresh networking and alignment between Sikh, Kashmiri militants and North East insurgents was also attempted.
Demolition of Disputed Ayodhya Structure
It proved an important turning point in the contemporary history. It not only exposed the fragility of our social structure but it also posed fresh challenges of internal security. Reason and rationality took a back seat and a foreign intelligence agency was immensely successful in disturbing communal harmony, more so, in those pockets, wherein Muslims had to struggle for a living and had neither the means nor desire to educate their off-springs.
Attack on Mumbai on 26th November, 2008
On the night of 26th November 2008, financial capital of India, Mumbai was trapped in a nightmare.
Ten fully armed suicide bombers of Laskar e Toiba entered the metropolis from Pakistan by sea route and launched senseless attacks in South Mumbai. Prior to entry, they had hijacked a mechanised boat and killed four persons therein. One person was spared as he was utilised as a guide.
Gun shots echoed in iconic landmarks-Taj Mahal hotel, Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus and Oberoi Trident hotel. Explosions also ripped through Nariman House, Leonard cafe and Cama hospital. All one could hear were gunshots and sirens from Police cars and ambulances. Initially Mumbai Police tackled the terrorists cum Suicide bombers. Later National Security Guard and Army took over.
People Killed & Injured
The city was rocked for 60 hours or four days (up to 28th November). 175 persons were killed including 18 policemen and 300 were injured. Two IPS officers, Hemant Karkare, IGP (without his bullet proof jacket)and his DIGP also figured in the list of martyrs. Another IPS officer, Vishwas N.N. Patil, Addl. DGP, received President's Police Medal. He was one of the first few officers to enter the Taj Mahal Hotel during its seize with his service revolver without wearing a bullet proof jacket, when attackers were wielding AK 47 Rifles.
Similarly another officer Govilkar, an Inspector held on to Kasab after chasing terrorists and puncturing a hijacked Skoda vehicle. He too got a bullet injury. However, before he was admitted to hospital he had lost six of his colleagues.
But it was Arun Yadav, a constable, while risking his life, showed tremendous presence of mind by informing Police Control Room about the attacks at two to three places.
Ajmal Kasab, Crucial Catch
Nine terrorists were killed and one of them, Md. Ajmal Amir Kasab was captured alive by Tukaram Omble, ASI of Mumbai Police with the help of only a Lathi(long stick).Omble himself was killed when hit at point blank range by 40 bullets. As his bravery turned out to be a beacon of hope, he was given Ashok Chakra, highest peace time gallantry award, posthumously.
Another person to receive this honour again posthumously was Major Unnikrishnan of NSG, who fought valiantly with terrorists during operation at Hotel Taj Mahal.
Though many dedicated countrymen suffered, injured as also gave their lives, one girl of nine or eleven years, a nurse of Cama Hospital and a Caretaker of Nariman House deserve to be mentioned.
Devika Rotawan became youngest survivor of terror attack at C.S. Terminus station. Being only twenty feet away from Kasab, she got a bullet injury in her leg from him. But she showed rare bravery when she identified Kasab in Court in 2009. She gave vivid description of how innocents were butchered by Kasab and another terrorist.
Similarly, Ms. Anjali, Senior Nurse of Cama Hospital showed fantastic presence of mind in huddling together 20 pregnant women in one small room of 10x10' when terrorists jumped into hospital compound. In addition, she escorted a woman in labour pain through stairs to the Labour room. Taking a lift would have been very risky as gun shots were being heard and grenades were being thrown almost non stop. The woman safely delivered a baby girl who was appropriately named 'Goli'.
An Indian caretaker at Nariman House too showed remarkable courage in saving and running to safety with an Israeli tiny tot, when terrorists were having a gun battle with NSG commandos inside Nariman House.
Mastermind of the Attack
Hafiz Saeed, who was released from an Indian jail in exchange of 150 captive passengers of flight number IC, 814 (Kathmandu-Delhi), was identified as the mastermind of the heinous attacks. His voice as also of some of his LeT colleagues were heard by policemen and commandos when long operation was on at Hotel Taj.
Courage & Sacrifice of Taj Employees
Not to be forgotten, officers and employees of the Hotel showed exemplary patience and courage in saving the life of inmates even then many American guests were butchered by terrorists. They received indomitable support from Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Sons ,who was supervising and observing the whole operation from nearby.
Conclusion
Memories of the Bloodbath will linger on. Horror generated by this tragedy may continue to haunt the relatives of persons who gave their lives in the service of nation. Scars of Devika Rotanian, an Israeli baby boy, his woman Caretaker at Nariman House and surviving policemen and commandos may remain.
Menace of cross border terrorism continues despite best efforts put in by BSF and other forces guarding the borders. Pakistan continues to push terrorists into India, despite so called ceasefire. Since 2021 alone 33 militant attacks have taken place in Jammu region. Once a safe area, the Bangladesh border too may pose threats now in view of change of regime in Dhaka.
(Views are personal. Email: alok.secyskm@gmail.com)
