Give a tribute to our heres

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

Hemant Karkare

Vijay Salaskar

Ashok Kamte

Mohan Chand Sharma

And also those whoes profile is not added but killed in terrorist attack.

 

Sign a Petition

To: Prime Minister of India

3 (three) urgent steps that needs to be taken to send a signal to the perpetrators and as well as the victims that this time round Indian political leadership will take visible action and “Walk the Talk”.

Very Simply – We want “Assertive Action” in response to the recent terror incidents(mini-war) in Mumbai.

1)Destroy Internal Terror Support Network
Internal Elements/known suspects/peripherally suspected/passive helpers, residing in any part of India, supporting terror activities should be dealt with very severely.

2)Cripple the Source
26 Nov should be treated as India’s 9/11
a) All known training camps outside the country should be attacked and destroyed.
b) All known terror suspects hiding out openly in neighboring countries should be flushed out by mounting unprecedented global pressure on their governments.

3)Police force of all states to be better equipped, trained and the most advanced surveillance systems to be deployed nationwide on a scale that will by itself act as a deterrent.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Click Here to sign Petition

 

Mumbai shootout 26 Nov

The November 2008 Mumbai attacks were a series of ten coordinated attacks which began across Mumbai (Bombay), the largest city in India and the country’s financial capital, on 26 November 2008 and ended on 29 November 2008 when Indian security forces finally regained control of all attack sites.

Location	Type of attack	Casualties	Rescued
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria) railway station	Shootings; grenade attacks.	55	none
Leopold Café, Colaba	Shootings, grenade explosion.	10	none
Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel	Shootings; six explosions; fire on ground, first, and top floors; hostages;RDX found nearby.	50 approx	around 250
Oberoi Trident hotel	Shootings; explosions; hostages; fire.	24	143
Metro Cinema	Shooting from carjacked police jeep
Cama Hospital	Shootings; hostages	3 policemen	none
Nariman House (Mumbai Chabad House)	Siege; shootings hostages.	6	9
Vile Parle suburb, North Mumbai	Car bomb blast.	3	none
Mazagaon docks	Explosion; boat with armaments seized.	none	none
Girgaum Chowpatty	1 terrorist killed and 1 arrested by a team from the Gamdevi police station.	2	none

Terrorists involved

* Azam Amir Kasav & Abu Ismail Dera Ismail Khan, (attacked CST, police vehicle in cama hospital, Metro cinema, Vidhan Bhavan, Girgaum Chowpatty)
* 4 Terrorists in Taj Hotel, 2 Terrorists in Oberoi Hotel, 2 Terrorists in Nariman House ( Abu Ali, Fahad, Omar, Shoaib, Umer, Abu Akasha, Abdul Rahman (Bara), and Abdul Rahman).

Entry into India

Date	Estimated Time (+0530 UTC)	Event
Nov 21	evening	Ten terrorists leave Karachi, Pakistan in a boat & travel for thirty-eight hours, remaining undetected by the Indian Navy.
Nov 22		Each of the 10 men are given 6-7 magazines of 30 rounds each plus 400 rounds not loaded in magazines , 8 hand grenades, one AK-47 assault rifle, an automatic loading revolver, credit cards and a supply of dried fruit.
Nov 22		A separate group check in to the Taj Hotel with arms and ammunition.
Nov 23		The terrorists hijack an Indian trawler, Kuber, killing four fishermen and ordering the captain to sail to India.
Nov 24		The terrorists kill the captain and sail to Gujarat and raise a white flag. Two coast guard officers approach and question them. They kill one of the officers and force the other to sail them to Mumbai.
Nov 26		They reach within four nautical miles (7 km) of Mumbai and kill the other coast guard officer. They then proceed to board three inflatable speedboats and reach Colaba jetty at dusk.
Nov 26		The ten men get off at Badhwar Park, Cuffe Parade, three blocks away from Nariman House.
Nov 26		Four of the men enter the Taj Mahal Hotel, two enter the Oberoi Trident, two enter Nariman House, and the other two men, Azam and Ismail, take a taxi to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

At the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel

Sources: NDTV, Evening Standard, and BBC

Date	Estimated Time (+0530 UTC)	Event
Nov 26	11:00 PM	Terrorists enter Taj hotel.
Nov 27	12:00 AM	Mumbai Police surrounds the hotel.
Nov 27	01:00 AM	Massive blast in the central dome, fire in the building.
Nov 27	02:30 AM	Army soldiers arrive in two trucks and enter the front lobby. Fire spreads across the top floor.
Nov 27	03:00 AM	Fire Engines arrive. Shootings heard inside lobby and heritage building.
Nov 27	4:00 AM	Firemen rescue people with ladders. More than 200 people evacuated
Nov 27	4:30 AM	Terrorists reported to move from central dome to new tower.
Nov 27	5:00 AM	Commandos and Bomb squad arrive. Police step up heat.
Nov 27	5:30 AM	Fire brought under control but terrorists holed up in new tower with 100–150 hostages.
Nov 27	6:30 AM	Security forces say they are ready for encounter.
Nov 27	8:00 AM	People are brought out of the lobby.
Nov 27	8:30 AM	Another 50 people brought out of Chambers club.
Nov 27	9:00 AM	More rounds of firing, many more people reported to be stuck inside.
Nov 27	10:30 AM	Gunbattle reported from inside
Nov 27	12 Noon	50 evacuated
Nov 27	4:30 PM	Militants set fire to a room on the 4th floor
Nov 27	7:20 PM	More NSG commandos arrive, enter hotel
Nov 27	11:00 PM	Operations continue
Nov 27	2:53 PM	Six bodies recovered
Nov 27–28	2:53 PM – 3:59	Ten grenade explosions
Nov 28	3:00 PM	Marine commandos recover explosives from Taj.
Nov 28	4.00 PM	12–15 dead bodies recovered from the Taj by Naval Commandos.
Nov 28	7:30 PM	Fresh explosions and gun shots at Taj Hotel.
Nov 28	8:30 PM	Reported that one terrorist left at the Taj.
Nov 29	3:40 AM – 4:10 AM	Reports of five explosions at the Taj.
Nov 29	5:05 AM	Revised estimate of one terrorist remaining.
Nov 29	07:30 AM	Fire raging on first floor. Black smoke from second floor. Gunshots heard frequently—apparent gun battle.
Nov 29	08:00 AM	Indian commandos state that the Taj Hotel is now under control. However they are still conducting room to room searches. People celebrate on the streets.

At the Oberoi Trident

Date	Estimated Time	Event
Nov 27	6 AM	NSG arrives, storms hotel.
Nov 27	8:40 AM	Firing heard, Top army, navy officers arrive and take stock.
Nov 27	1:30 PM	Two small explosions. More reinforcements enter building.
Nov 27	3:25 PM	Some foreign hostages rescued
Nov 27	5:35 PM	Sikh regiment arrives, fierce gunbattle.
Nov 27	6 PM	27 hostages come out of Air India building, four foreigners taken to hospital.
Nov 27	6:45 PM	Explosion heard. Two NSG guards, 25 army personnel suspected injured. More people rescued, in all 31.
Nov 27	7:10 PM	1 terrorist arrested.
Nov 27	7:25 PM	Fire breaks out on 4th floor
Nov 27	11 PM	Operations continue
Nov 28	10 AM	Many hostages evacuated from the Trident building.
Nov 28	3:00 PM	Commando operations at Oberoi over, 24 dead bodies recovered. 143 hostages rescued alive. Two militants shot dead.

At Nariman House

Date	Estimated Time	Event
Nov 27	7 AM	Police began evacuating adjacent buildings.
Nov 27	11 AM	Cross-firing between terrorists and police; one militant injured.
Nov 27	2:45 PM	Terrorists threw grenade into nearby lane; no casualties.
Nov 27	5:30 PM	NSG commandos arrive, naval helicopter took aerial survey.
Nov 27	11 PM	Operations continued.
Nov 27	12 PM	9 hostages rescued from first floor.
Nov 28	7:30 AM	NSG commandos airdropped onto the top of Nariman house.
Nov 28	7:30 PM	All 6 hostages including the Rabbi and his wife found killed by the terrorists.
Nov 28	8:30 PM	NSG commandos declared the operations over, 2 terrorists killed.

Casualties

At least 172 people had been killed in the attacks and 293 wounded. Among the dead were 124 Indian civilians, 17 policemen and 31 foreigners. The breakdown of the foreigners was as follows: four Americans, four Australians, three Canadians, three Germans, two Israeli-Americans, two Israelis, two French, two Italians, one British-Cypriot, one Dutch, one Japanese, one Jordanian, one Malaysian, one Mauritian, one Mexican, one Singaporean and one Thai.

In addition, nine terrorists were killed and one was captured.

27 other foreigners of different nationalities were injured in the terror strikes and were admitted to the Bombay Hospital. Hospital sources said the injured foreigners were from Australia, USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Canada, Spain, Norway, Finland, Oman, China, Japan, the Philippines and Jordan.

Andreas Liveras, a British yachting tycoon (of dual Greek Cypriot and British citizenship), was among those confirmed killed. German TV producer Ralph Burkei, and French lingerie tycoon, Loumia Hiridjee and her husband, were also among the dead. Husband and wife, Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg, both of whom were hostages in Nariman House, also died during the attack.

According to Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, 14 policemen and three NSG commandos were killed, including the following officers:

• Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad Chief Hemant Karkare, who headed the team investigating the politically sensitive 2006 Malegaon blasts. Karkare had also been receiving death threats recently, including a threat to bomb his residence, but it is unclear if these were related to his death.
• Additional Commissioner of Police: Ashok Kamte
• Encounter specialist: Vijay Salaskar
• Senior inspector Shashank Shinde, who had recently been involved in investigating many of India’s recent bombings.
• NSG Commando, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
• NSG Commando Hawaldar Chandar
• NSG Commando Gajendra Singh

Three railway officials of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus had also been killed in the terror strikes.

The Government of Maharashtra announced Rs. 5 lakh (about 10,000 USD) compensation to the kin of those killed in the terror attacks and Rs. 50,000 (about 1,000 USD) to the seriously injured.

Nationality	Deaths	Injured
Indian	141	256
American	4	2
Australian	4	2
Canadian	3	2
German	3	3
American-Israeli	2	–
Israeli	2	–
French	2	–
Italian	2	–
Cypriot-British	1	–
Dutch	1	–
Japanese	1	1
Jordanian	1	1
Malaysian	1
Mauritian	1	–
Mexican	1	–
Singaporean	1	–
Thai	1	–
Austrian	–	1
British	–	7
Chinese	–	1
Omani	–	2
Filipino	–	1
Spanish	–	2
Finnish	–	1
Norwegian	–	1

Muslim Council refuses to bury militants in India

The Muslim Council of India decided not to allow burial of the bodies of the nine terrorists killed during the Mumbai siege in the Marine Lines Bada Qabrastan (cemetery). The council said it was trying to send a message to all cemeteries in India that none of the bodies should be buried on Indian soil.

Strong Nationalism among general public

The attack has put challenges for the Congress-led Indian government ahead of general elections, and also to persuade Pakistan to act against militants. Many general public want some kind of clear response to the attack that killed 183 people, from identifying and punishing the masterminds to trade sanctions against Pakistan, or passing firm anti-terrorism laws within India

Terrorism in Mumbai

The city of Mumbai, India has suffered several terrorist attacks, mostly bombings, including:

* 12 March 1993 – Series of 13 bombs go off killing 257
* 06 December 2002 – Bomb goes off in a bus in Ghatkopar killing 2
* 27 January 2003 – Bomb goes off on a bicycle in Vile Parle killing 1
* 14 March 2003 – Bomb goes off in a train in Mulund killing 10
* 28 July 2003 – Bomb goes off in a bus in Ghatkopar killing 4
* 25 August 2003 – Two Bombs go off in cars near the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar killing 50
* 11 July 2006 – Series of seven bombs go off in trains killing 209
* 19 October 2008 – North Indians killed in various part of Maharastra. (killed 20 people).
* 26 November 2008 to 29 November 2008 – Coordinated series of attacks killing at least 189

 

Assam train blast 2 december 2008

GUWAHATI: Three people were killed and more than 30 wounded Tuesday in a blast that ripped through a passenger train in the northeastern state of Assam, police officials said.

A police spokesman said the explosion went off as the train was stopped at a railway station about 300 kilometers (190 miles) east of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.

One person died on the spot and two succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital.

“There are a large number of women and children among the casualties,” the spokesman said.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, but the outlawed Karbi Longri National Liberation Front, fighting for an independent homeland for the majority Karbi tribe, is known to be active in the area.

Last 30 October blast claims 89 people and injured 200 people. 26 November terrorist attacked in Mumbai and killed at least 200 people injured 300 peole.

The Karbi Liongri National Liberation Front, enforcing an “indefinite economic blockade” on national highways and rail tracks in the state, allegedly planted the bomb in a general compartment of Tinsukia-Lumding passenger train which exploded around 8 am, police said.

Two passengers, including a child, were killed and 30 others injured, they said, adding that the injured have been rushed to hospitals.

District Superintendent of Police A K Sarma said that the police had beefed up security in the district in the wake of prior information about the militants’ plan to explode bombs in Diphu town, headquarters of Karbi Anglong district, besides Bokajan and Howraghat towns.

Due to intensified vigil, the militants failed to plant explosive devices in Diphu town and, instead detonated a bomb with a timer device inside the train as it was approaching Diphu railway station, he said.

The KLNLF has called the economic blockade of railway tracks and National Highways 37 and 39 in the district demanding responses from political parties to their 10-point demands, which include among others, exclusion of Karbi Anglong land from ‘Dimaraji’ as demanded by another militant outfit, Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), in neighbouring N C Hills.

Sarma said police has also recovered two bombs also suspected to have been planted by KLNLF militants at the Dokmoka area of the town.

 

India asks Pakistan for fugitives

India has asked Pakistan to hand over 20 fugitives from Indian law who it believes are settled in Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India lodged a formal protest and gave the names to Pakistan’s high commissioner at a meeting on Monday.

Tensions have risen between the two neighbours since the attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai last week.

Officials say 201 people were killed – including 22 foreigners – and more than 200 were injured in the violence.

Indian officials have repeatedly said in recent days there is evidence the militants behind the attacks had Pakistani links.

Islamabad has denied involvement and warned against letting “miscreants” inflame tensions in the region.

India’s new home minister has vowed to “respond with determination and resolve” over the crisis.

 

India, US, Israel must ally against terror

An American anti-terrorist and human rights expert on South Asia believes the intelligence failures in Mumbai were systemic and in some ways aped the failures of the United States before September 11, 2001.

Richard L Benkin, founder of Interfaith Strength, said in an interview with this correspondent that one gigantic problem in India is the lack of coordination among intelligence agencies that might have “different pieces to a deadly puzzle.”

“Although Israeli intelligence has been aiding India on a number of fronts, there was little or no multi-national coordination, and that is a particularly deadly mistake with regard to Islamist terror because Islamist terror is an international phenomenon and discreet national efforts will never defeat the enemy at its source,” Benkin said.

“The third systemic failure is the refusal of the Indian government to recognise that Islamist terror is an existential threat whose perpetrators will be satisfied with nothing less than the death of India as we know it,” he said.

By his admission Benkin has traveled to South Asia several times to free political prisoners, visit refugee camps, identify the alliance among South Asian Islamists and Communists, oppose Islamist radicals, and protest the ethnic cleansing of Bangladeshi Hindus.

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Benkin said there have been over 11,000 incidents of terror worldwide. He noted that even before the Mumbai terror attacks , terrorists had murdered over 1,100 Indian citizens this year alone. “What sort of rationalisations could convince anyone that these attacks are discreet and limited? We in the United States made the same mistake when we failed to see the same threat after the 1993 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York,” he said.

“But I do not believe that these delusions are coming from the intelligence establishment itself. Clearly, these agencies are not independent operators and are held subordinate to the political structures and elected leaders in the nation,” he said.

“We have the same problem in the United States. To be sure, India and the United States are democracies and have certain standards of acceptable and moral behaviour but it is a particularly imbecility of our time that holds those structures incompetent if they do not demonstrate their power over the intelligence professionals in some public manner,” he said.

In response to a question whether or not anger generated by the attacks in Mumbai would be translated into a sustained government resolve to overcome terror, Benkin said the first and most important factor is recognising the fact that no matter what happens today, tomorrow, or the next day, or even if the US apprehends Osama bin Laden, the terrorist threat will be diminished perhaps for a time but in no way eliminated.

He said there is a need to recognise that the threat is a transnational one, needing a transnational response.

Benkin favours an alliance against extremism among India, Israel and the United States. “All three countries have been targeted for elimination by the Islamists — and if that is not sufficient motivation for strong action, it is rather impossible to imagine what is. Each of these three nations has withstood unrelenting terror attacks and still thrives,” he said. “Their power in an alliance would be unstoppable — so long as all three discard self-destructive notions like political correctness. Once those conceptual changes have been made, effective action is a matter of filling in the blanks.”

 

England cricket team calls off India tour

England cricket team’s ongoing tour of India cancelled following Mumbai terror attacks. The tour was thrown into doubt on Wednesday night after more than 101 people were killed in Mumbai attacks.

Earlier, England were waiting to hear from the Foreign Office before taking a call on the tour even as Cricket Australia suspended all travel to India.

“We will be guided by the Foreign Office,” an ECB spokesman was quoted as saying by the ‘Daily Telegraph’.

Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium was supposed to host the second Test between England and India from December 19. The stadium is just stone throwing distance away from the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi Hotel, the scenes of the terror strikes.

The attacks happened after England crashed to their fifth successive defeat to India in Cuttack on Wednesday and reports claimed the terror strikes had left senior England team players concerned.

“We will be guided by the foreign office. We need to get a clearer idea of what the situation is before we react further,” said ECB media relations manager Andrew Walpole.

Even before the tour began there had been security concerns for the ECB after bomb blasts left dozens dead in Guwahati, where the sixth ODI is due to be played on Saturday.

 

City which never sleeps on knees

Mumbai, the city which never sleeps, was brought to its knees on Wednesday night as it came under an unprecedented multiple terror attack bringing areas from the South to the North of the metropolis under its grip.

As the siren blazing Toyota Qualis of the Mumbai police blazed passed, people could be seen running helter skelter, at times even crawling to save themselves from at least five near-simultaneous firings and explosions rocking areas in the vicinity of posh hotels in South Mumbai.

Even as heavily armed police stormed into Taj Hotel, just opposite Gateway of India where suspected terrorists were still holed up, blood soaked guests could be seen carried out into the waiting ambulances.

Bellboys could be seen rushing the injured out on luggage trolleys.

The scene at the nearby Trident hotel was more horrific as the glasses lay shattered on the ground even as fire could be seen raging out of the lobby.

Windshields of cars parked nearby had broken because of suspected bomb being set off at the hotel.

At the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal (CST) railway station, hordes of mediaperson could be seen jostling for space as the area was cordoned off with no media being allowed near it even as an encounter went on inside.

Armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades, a couple of terrorists had entered the passenger hall of crowded railway station and opened fire and threw a grenade killing two to three persons on the spot.

The busy city, which is known for its nightlife, wore a deserted look as shops closed down even as police wearing bulletproof jackets could be seen frisking people in fear of terrorists taking advantage of the chaos to escape.

 

Mumbai blast update

At least 11 Policemen killed in terror attack in mumbai. Police said they killed 5 terrorist in many places after counter attack on terrorist. Mumbai Police loose 3 top police officers like Hemant Karkare, vijay salaskar and Ashok Kamte. Some people are still hostage in Taj Hotel, Trident hotel and Cama Hospital. Army comes out from barreck and enters in Mumbai town for resque opration. Chief Ministor of Maharastra said that terrorist attacked on 11 places in mumbai. Government says 76 people were killed and around 240 is enjoured.

No comment received from R. R. Patil yet ( He said once “Goli ka Jabab Goli se diya jayega”, still undergrounded.).

Prime Minister of India Manmohan singh condemn the terrorist attack (once again after Guwahati).
200 NSG commando 5 battalian Army enters in Mumbai. All Local train, Buses are cancelled.

Now fresh firing in Taj is heared. 4-5 terrorist are still inside the Taj Hotel, Many Taj staff are killed inside Taj. More than 100 people are still hostage in Taj.

Policemen in plain clothes have been deployed in huge numbers, while the Rapid Action Force has taken charge of the situation at the Oberoi.

The fire is raging uncontrollably in certain parts of the hotel, especially on top-most floor. Shreds of glass and embers are bouncing off the burning hotel. Ambulances have been rushed to the spot and are presently on stand-by.

Its attack on Marathi asmita but still we didn’t here any thing from RAJ THACKREY (THEy can bark against only Bihari, UP Walla ha ha ha….).

Every people fears again in mumbai no one is safe here.

Gunmen have carried out a series of co-ordinated attacks across the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing at least 80 people and injuring 200 more.

The situation is still confused but the city’s main train station, a hospital, a restaurant and two hotels – locations used by foreigners as well as local businessmen and leaders – are among those places caught up in the violence.

There are reports of gunfire and explosions taking place elsewhere in the city, and reports of a hostage situation at a hospital.

Is it realy terrorist attack or people celebrating the indian crecket teams winning in Cuttack. Ha ha ha Lol!!!

Vijay Salaskar

मुंबई में हुए चरमपंथी हमलों से निपटने के लिए केंद्र सरकार ने 200 एनएसजी कमांडो, सेना के 50 कमांडो और सेना की पाँच टुकड़ियाँ भेजी हैं.

पुलिस कमिश्नर से मिली जानकारी के अनुसार कई जगह चरमपंथी घुसे हुए हैं और उनके पास अत्याधुनिक हथियार हैं.

ताज होटल, ऑबराय होटल, रेलवे स्टेशन और एक और बिल्डिंग के ऊपर चार-पाँच चरमपंथी हैं और उन्होंने लोगों को बंधक बनाकर रखा है.

चरमपंथियों ने कई जगह अंधाधुंध गोलियाँ चलाई हैं और बहुत से लोगों को घायल किया है लेकिन अभी उनकी संख्या का पता नहीं चल सका है.

हेमंत करकरे इससे पहले रॉ में काम कर चुके हैं और एटीएस प्रमुख के तौर पर उनका कार्यकाल अच्छा माना जाता रहा है.

विजय सालस्कर मुंबई पुलिस के अधिकारी हैं जबकि अशोक कामते भी एटीएस के ही अधिकारी हैं और इन दोनों की भी मौत हो गई है.

मुंबई के चरमपंथी हमलों ने शहर की विरासत माने जाने वाले ताज होटल को भी नहीं बख्शा है और इस हमले में होटल को ज़बर्दस्त नुकसान हुआ है.

चरमपंथियों ने न केवल होटल में धमाके किए बल्कि लोगों को बंधक भी बना रखा.

होटल का अत्यंत सुंदर गुंबद टूट गया है और इसे धू धू जलते देख लगता है कि मानो मुंबई टूट कर गिर रही हो.

मुंबई की तस्वीर जहां कहीं भी दिखाई जाती है तो इसकी तस्वीर गेटवे ऑफ इंडिया और ताज होटल ही दिखती है.

यह मात्र होटल नहीं एक प्रतिबिंब है मुंबई में मौजूद इमारतों के वास्तुशिल्प का जो उस शहर के इतिहास की याद ताजा करता है. अब चरमपंथियों के इस हमले में होटल की सुंदरता को ठेस मिली है और शिल्प को भी नुकसान पहुंचाया है.

ब्रितानी काल में अंग्रेज़ों द्वारा बनाए गए सबसे सुंदर इमारतों में ताज होटल का नाम शुमार होता है. इसका निर्माण 1903 में हुआ था और जब यह बना था तो भारत का पहला लक्ज़री होटल था.

इसके निर्माण में क़रीब ढाई लाख पाउंड लगे थे और यह वो जगह थी जहां भारत के वायसराय महाराजओं और बड़े लोगों से मिला करते थे.

आज़ादी के बाद भी इसकी सुंदरता न केवल बरकरार रही बल्कि इसका महत्व भी वैसा ही बना रहा.

हर साल इस इमारत में बदलाव होते रहे और नई इमारतें जुड़ती रहीं लेकिन इसकी ख़ूबसूरती कभी घटी नहीं, बढ़ती ही रही.

अरब सागर की लहरों के थपेड़े हमेशा ताज होटल और यहां ठहरने वालों को थपकियां देकर सुलाते रहे लेकिन अब यहां आने वाले भी चरमपंथियों के हमले से सहम गए होंगे.

कह सकते हैं कि मुंबई के दिल पर किया गया यह हमला एक बार को पूरी मुंबई को झकझोर कर रखने की क्षमता रखता है.

इस ताज होटल का निर्माण 1903

 

India on a winning streak, take 5-0 lead

As captain MS Dhoni had promised, there was no dip in the intensity level after the series win and India comfortably won the fifth ODI against England by 6 wickets in Cuttack.

After a blistering start from Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, India lost the momentum a bit as they lost three wickets in quick succession, but then Dhoni along with Suresh Raina consolidated India’s position. Dhoni (50) added 94 runs for the fourth wicket and also raised his 25th ODI fifty before Graeme Sawnn trapped him in front of the wicket. After the captain’s dismissal, Raina and Rohit Sharma saw their side home with 38 balls to spare.

England pacer Steve Harmison gave their side the first breakthrough as he dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for 50 runs. Sachin tried to play a good length delivery towards the cover but missed it and the ball crashed into the stumps. The master blaster became the first batsman to raise 90th one-day half-century. He added 136 runs for the first wicket with Sehwag. The duo had the 100-run stand for the tenth time in a row.

Yuvraj Singh was the second Indian to depart as he perished to a soft dismissal from Ravi Bopara for 6 runs. Bopara took a simple catch in his follow through to see the Punjab dasher back in the hut. Sehwag, despite his blitzing knock, missed out on his ton as Stuart Broad caught him plumb in front for 91 runs. In his 73-ball long innings, Sehwag slammed fifteen fours and a six to raise 33rd ODI fifty, his seventh against England and grabbed his second ‘Man of the match’ award of the series.

Earlier riding on their captain’s knock, England made 270 runs at the loss of four wickets. Electing to bowl first, India started off nicely as pacer Zaheer Khan struck twice to dismiss openers Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara. Cook was first to depart, as a good length delivery that was going outside the off-stump took an outside edge of his bat and landed in the hands of Tendulkar at the first slip. He could make just 10 runs.

His opening partner Bopara survived a scare but finally perished for 24 runs. He tried to play it up but went straight to Yuvraj Singh standing at the backward point.

Kevin Pietersen (111*), who came after Cook’s departure, held the fort for his side. He first had an 89-run partnership with Paul Collingwood for the third wicket. Harbhajan broke their partnership as the latter holed out one in the deep to Zaheer Khan for 40 runs. In the next over of Ishant Sharma, new man Flintoff edged one to Sachin Tendulkar at slips without any addition to the score.

Pietersen was then joined by Owais Shah (66*) and the duo had an unbeaten partnership of 112 runs for the fifth wicket. While Pietersen raised seventh hundred, his second against India, Shah got his ninth ODI fifty. In the process, KP also completed 3000 ODI runs for England when he was on the score of 58.

India: MS Dhoni (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma.

England: Kevin Pietersen (Captain), Alistair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Samit Patel, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steve Harmison.