Nation observes first anniversary of 26/11

A year before, a few men with guns in their hands had held Mumbai at ransom, causing irreparable damage to life, property and the city’s morale.

A year later, the entire nation has come together to observe the first anniversary of the 26/11 attacks and pay homage to the 166 people who lost their lives.

Making a strong statement that they would not be deterred by terror, Mumbaikars went about doing their daily chores as any other day but also paused in their tracks to honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the devastating 60-hour terror strike last year.

There were a lot of events lined up through the day. A memorial for 18 security personnel, including National Security Guards (NSG) commander Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan is to be unveiled by Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram here.

A ''Suraksha March'' of police and various security agencies is being organized from Gateway of India to Girgaum Chowpatty.

Mumbai Police will hold a peace flag march in a show of strength from Air India building, passing Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty. The march will also include Force One, the Quick Response Team and armoured vehicles.

In Mumbai, the Railway Protection Force personnel paid homage to those slaughtered inside the CST where two terrorists opened fire. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan visited the Trident-Oberoi along with his colleagues to pay homage to those who fell to the bullets fired by the terrorists in the majestic hotel.

The Force One the new crack security force of the State government launched here on Tuesday made its first public appearance by staging a parade from Nariman Point to Chowpatty on Thursday morning.

The state has also organised an all-religious prayer meeting at the Gateway of India in the evening that will be attended by prominent members of society and the masses.

There are many other moments of silence, remembering and mourning slated all over the day, but the morning rush hour showed the resilience of India’s financial and entertainment capital, with commuter trains and buses packed and roads as choked with traffic as ever.