Rich tributes paid to martyrs on 26/11 anniversary

The Governor and Chief Minister laid wreaths at the Police Memorial here this morning and observed silence for a while in memory of the 18 security personnel, including then ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who died fighting the Pakistani terrorists during the three-day siege in November 2008.

Home Minister R R Patil, PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister of State for Home Satej Patil, Member of Parliament Nitesh Rane, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Umesh Sarangi, DGP K Subramanian, ATS chief Rakesh Maria, Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik and family members of the martyrs were among those who paid tributes.

Senior Government officials and top police officers also attended the event.

The Police Memorial in Marine Drive, south Mumbai, will remain open today for public to enable them to pay respects to the bravehearts.

On November 26, 2008, Ajmal Amir Kasab and nine other heavily-armed gunmen, who arrived here by sea, attacked various places, including the Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman House, Oberoi Hotel and Mumbai CST railway station, killing 166 people and injuring several others.

Kasab, who was caught alive and sentenced to death by a trial court, is currently lodged in the high security Arthur Road Jail here.