On November 26, thirteen years ago, 10 LeT terrorists stormed into the financial capital of Mumbai, with the sole aim of wrecking the country to the core for three consecutive days, the city of Mumbai was under in the grip of terror. The violence claimed the lives of 166 people, including foreigners.
The terrorists targeted several crowded locations across the city, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Hotel Trident-Oberoi, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, among others.
Lets us look back at the entire timeline of how the terror attack unfolded
On the night of November 26 around 9:30 pm, two of the four terrorists, Abdul Rehman Bada and Abu Ali reached the main entrance of the Tower section and planted a crude RDX bomb in front of the police post nearby. Fully armed with AK 47s, ammunition, and grenades, they made their way into the lobby firing on anyone and everyone who came in front of their sight.
The other two terrorists, Shoib and Umer, entered through the La-Pat door of the Palace and started shooting down guests in the poolside area. By the poolside, four foreigners were the first to be shot down by the terrorists along with security guard Ravindra Kumar and his Labrador Retriever.
Around the early hours of November 27, the central dome of the hotel was bombed which caught massive fire in the building.
Altogether, 10 Lashkar terrorists arrived in Mumbai from Karachi on speedboats. Though the initial reports suggested state that a ‘gang war’ is going on, it soon is clear this was a terrorist attack on the heart of the Financial capital.
The rescue operation to save the hostages and fight the Terror
On November 27 Army soldiers and Marine commandos surround the hostage sites the Taj, Trident, and Nariman House. The elite NSG, deployed to storm the sites and launched Operation Black Tornado.
The first round of evacuation started with two groups formed by marine commandos. The first group was out safely. The second group was spotted by the terrorists while they were exiting.
About 200 NSG commandos reached Mumbai from New Delhi and took charge of the rescue operations in Taj and Oberoi. The government gave orders to storm the building.
On the morning of November 29, the Indian commandos announced that the Taj had been cleared of all the terrorists. the NSG takes over the operation at the Oberoi. With continues, Explosions and gun battles continue throughout the day. NSG Commandoes can secure the buildings and save the Nation fighting its biggest Terror attacks.
With many of their lives were lost, nine of the terrorists were gunned down by the National Security Guard (NSG) and Mumbai Police. While Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, was convicted and sentenced to death. Kasab was hanged on November 21, 2012.
Kasab later confirmed the assault was planned, coordinated, and conducted by the Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based terror modules. It’s proven during the interrogation of three terrorists Ajmal Kasab, David Headley, and Zabiuddin Ansari that Pakistan was behind this, despite all the availability of necessary evidence, Pakistan is yet to show sincerity in delivering justice to the families of victims.