Mumbai observed the 17th anniversary of the devastating 26/11 terror attacks with a poignant ceremony at the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s Office, where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led floral tributes to the officers who perished confronting the onslaught. Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state minister Ashish Shelar, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, and Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Fadnavis placed wreaths at the martyrs’ memorial in the south Mumbai compound, a site etched with the names of those who embodied valor in the face of terror.
The gathering drew families of the fallen, whose quiet resolve amplified the event’s gravity. Relatives lingered by the memorial plaque, eyes fixed on inscriptions that recount the selfless acts of policemen who charged into peril against well-armed assailants from Lashkar-e-Taiba. Rank-and-file officers from across Mumbai’s forces joined in, offering crisp salutes and moments of hushed contemplation to salute their predecessors’ unyielding spirit.
This annual rite underscores a scar that time has not fully healed. On that fateful night in 2008, ten Pakistani militants infiltrated by sea, unleashing a meticulously planned barrage on landmarks like the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and Nariman House. The rampage claimed 166 lives and wounded over 300, shattering the city’s rhythm and igniting international condemnation.
Yet from the ashes emerged pivotal shifts in India’s defenses. The tragedy spurred enhancements in intelligence sharing, bolstered coastal monitoring, and fortified swift intervention protocols. Key among them: the establishment of National Security Guard regional centers in major cities, stricter sea border protocols, and upgraded inter-agency networks—all forged from the hard-won insights of that November evening.
As wreaths were laid and a video captured the proceedings—showing leaders in measured solidarity—the homage stood as testament to Mumbai’s police legacy of grit and the metropolis’s collective fortitude, a beacon against the shadows of vulnerability.
-
-
-
-
