President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead the nation in paying tributes to security personnel killed in the Mumbai terror attacks.

In one of the deadliest terror attacks in the country’s history, 166 people, including security personnel and foreigners, were killed and over 300 injured when 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

On the 11th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks, we remember everyone who lost their lives and mourn with their families. A grateful nation salutes the security personnel who made the supreme sacrifice. We remain firm in our resolve to defeat all forms of terrorism, President Ram Nath Kovind.

“I salute the bravery and devotion of our security personnel who laid down their lives to protect the motherland.The nation shall forever remain grateful to their sacrifices,” he said. Naidu also paid tributes to all those killed in the 2008 attacks in the country’s commercial capital. “My tributes to all those who lost their lives in the dastardly Mumbai terror attack of 2008. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families,” his office tweeted quoting him.

In his address to both Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House on the occasion of the Consititution Day, PM Modi said that while November 26 is a happy occasion as India celebrates Constitution Day, it also reminds of the Mumbai terror attacks that took place on this day in 2008. “I pay tributes to those killed in the Mumbai terror attacks,” he said.

Floral tributes were paid on Tuesday to those who laid down their lives while fighting Pakistani terrorists who had attacked Mumbai on this day 11 years ago.

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the dignitaries who paid homage at the 26/11 police memorial site at Mumbai Police Gymkhana in south Mumbai. “I pay homage to the brave policemen who fought for Mumbai’s safety and laid down their lives for us on 26/11. We are proud of them and we will strive hard for the safety and security of our state,” Fadnavis said.

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari also paid tributes to the martyrs.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tributes to civilians and security personnel who risked their lives to protect people on this day in 2008. Urging people to fight terror unitedly, the Chief Minister said that she shared the grief of the bereaved families.

“Today is the 11th anniversary of 26/11 #MumbaiAttacks. Solemnly remembering those who lost their lives on that day. My thoughts with their families. Homage to the brave police officers, military, and civilians, who risked their lives to save people. Let us unitedly fight terror,” Banerjee tweeted.

26/11 attack

State Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, Director General of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve, and family members of the policemen who lost their lives during the attacks were also present during the ceremony.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores.

The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai’s Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte, Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Tukaram Omble were among those killed in the attack. The attacks had begun on November 26 and lasted till November 29.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Nariman House Jewish community centre, now renamed Nariman Light House, were some of the places targeted by the terrorists.

Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.

Railway officials also laid wreathes at the 26/11 memorial at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, one of the targets of the terror attack.

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