Nation remembers 26/11

The entire nation including Mumbai Thursday is remembering November 26th of last year, which became the witness of the assassination of 170 people in a 60-hour terror mayhem in Mumbai. The Mumbaikers and whole Indians are paying the homage to the dead victims at the occasion of first anniversary today.

In this occasion, prayers and candlelight vigils are being held in Mumbai and various parts of the country to pay homage to the victims.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will unveil a memorial of 18 security personnel including National Security Guards (NSG) commander Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Maharashta Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Additional commissioner Ashok Kamte, 'encounter specialist' Vijay Saluskar at the Police Gymkhana, Marine Drive on 6 p.m today. He is expected to visit to Nariman House to pay homage to martyrs at the Gateway of India.

The Chief Minister of Maharastra Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandan will attend a memorial function at the Indian Merchant Chambers building organised for 26/11 victims at 10:30 p.m.

Mumbai Police Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. held a peace flag march in a show of strength from Air India building, passing Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty. The Force One, the Quick Response Team and armoured vehicles were also the part of the march.

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

A massive blood donation campaign initiated by the Railways with some other organisations is also being organised at Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), which was the first target of the terrorists last year and saw the maximum carnage with the deaths of 52 people.

A low-key anniversary ceremony for the staff and their families is scheduled be held in the evening at hotal Taj and Trident. One section of the Trident will be kept open for the public to come and light candles.

Several prayers including multi-religious prayers at one spot are scheduled to be held on various places in Mumbai.

Last year on this day, 10 terrorists who sneaked in from the Arabian Sea, targeted Mumbai in which 166 lives were lost. In the 60-hour operation, nine terrorists were killed by security forces while one Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab was nabbed alive and is currently on trial.