13 Years Of 26/11 Mumbai Attacks: Tributes Paid To Martyrs

Floral tributes were paid on Friday to the martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

President Ram Nath Kovindpaid tributes to the bravehearts and saluted them for their courage and valour.

President Kovind tweeted, "My heartfelt tributes to the martyrs and homage to the victims of the 26/11 #MumbaiTerrorAttacks. The nation will always be grateful for the bravery and sacrifice of the security forces who laid down their lives in the line of duty," 

My heartfelt tributes to the martyrs and homage to the victims of the 26/11 #MumbaiTerrorAttacks. The nation will always be grateful for the bravery and sacrifice of the security forces who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 26, 2021

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi: "I pay tributes to the martyrs of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks who faced the terrorists valiantly. The entire country will be proud of their valour and remain indebted for their sacrifice."

मुंबई 26/11 आतंकी हमलों में जान गंवाने वालों को भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि देता हूँ और उन सभी सुरक्षाकर्मियों के साहस को सलाम करता हूं, जिन्होंने कायरतापूर्ण हमलों में आतंकवादियों का डटकर सामना किया। पूरे देश को आपकी वीरता पर गर्व रहेगा। कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र सदैव आपके बलिदान का ऋणी रहेगा। pic.twitter.com/rgW2xsoXVj

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 26, 2021

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: "On the 13th anniversary of the November 26 terror attack on Mumbai, we remember the innocent lives we lost. My tributes to everyone who lost their lives in those attacks. Our security forces displayed exemplary courage during 26/11 attacks. I salute their bravery & sacrifice."

On the 13th anniversary of the November 26th terror attack on Mumbai, we remember the innocent lives we lost.

My tributes to everyone who lost their lives in those attacks. Our security forces displayed exemplary courage during 26/11 attacks. I salute their bravery & sacrifice.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 26, 2021

The BJP national vice-president and spokesperson Baijayant Panda tweeted, "Never forget. The 26/11 #MumbaiTerrorAttack was state-sponsored terrorism by a cowardly enemy that took many innocent lives.It counted on India's weak response & deliberate obfuscation.All that has changed, #NewIndia is far stronger, safer, determined & respected.Jai Hind "

Never forget. The 26/11 #MumbaiTerrorAttack was state-sponsored terrorism by a cowardly enemy that took many innocent lives.
It counted on India's weak response & deliberate obfuscation.
All that has changed, #NewIndia is far stronger, safer, determined & respected.
Jai Hind 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/bIrjNtNiW2

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) November 26, 2021

"Homage to all the people who lost their lives in the heinous 26/11 #MumbaiTerrorAttacks.I also salute the grit & resilience of the people of Mumbai and the valour of the police & armed forces in thwarting the attacks. The country will remain indebted for the sacrifices.", tweeted Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmedra Pradhan.

Homage to all the people who lost their lives in the heinous 26/11 #MumbaiTerrorAttacks.

I also salute the grit & resilience of the people of Mumbai and the valour of the police & armed forces in thwarting the attacks. The country will remain indebted for the sacrifices. pic.twitter.com/Xl78tuhCtz

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) November 26, 2021

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil paid their respects at the memorial at the police headquarters in south Mumbai.

The martyrs' memorial has been relocated from the original site at Police Gymkhana in Marine Drive to the police headquarters at Crawford Market because of the ongoing work on the Coastal Road project, an official said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who is recuperating in a Mumbai hospital after spine surgery, also remembered the 26/11 martyrs.

The 13th anniversary of the deadly terror attack was attended by a limited number of people in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Family members of some of the martyred police personnel also paid tributes at the memorial.

During the ceremony, the dignitaries met family members of some martyrs.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan arrived by sea route and opened fire, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others during the 60-hour siege in Mumbai.

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 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 terrorists.

Nine terrorists were later killed by the security forces, including the NSG, the country's elite commando force. Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.