Open Thread on Mumbai Blasts – July ’11 (updated)
Dear All: Opening this thread to discuss Mumbai blasts…
I’m still trying to collect more information and put the pieces together (motive, suspects etc). In the meantime, latest reports suggest 8 killed in 3 separate blasts..Will update this as and when I get some time and fresh information..In the meantime, please share your thoughts and comments below...(pl keep it civil, polite and no blanket abuse please; no personal attacks either; also look at my comments policy under “Disclaimer” if you have not already done so). Â Please spare a moment to remember the innocents who were killed and the many who were caught up in this..My prayers are with their families..
*** Update at 11pm IST (13th July ’11): 21 dead(?); 100+ injured. Still no clues about the group(s)/individuals behind this.
Meanwhile Obama described the blasts as “outrageous attacks”. Do you remember the last time an Indian politician used such strong words?
Meanwhile friends of Pakistan appear to have undertaken an early-damage control exercise in case the finger of suspicion does point to a “neighbouring” country (in this context, pl read: “We know its Pakistan but we hope its not!”). Good night all. Stay safe wherever you are…and have faith. We shall overcome.
*** Update at 9am IST (14th July ’11): Pl see my comment below. Pl contribute links and share thoughts via comments section below. Thanks.
Related Posts under Terrorism in India including: Open thread on attack in Varanasi* , Another year, another anniversary – “Kuch nayee baat batao yaarâ€* , Pearl Harbour, 26/11 & Another Day of Infamy..
Pre-drafted, cut-and-paste statements begin:
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Government and the people of Pakistan, have condemned the blasts in Mumbai and expressed distress on the loss of lives and injuries.
The President and the Prime Minister have expressed their deepest sympathies to the Indian leadershipVice-President Hamid Ansari condemns the attacks.
“He expressed deep shock at the scale of the attacks..He said that such terrorist acts are aimed at destabilizing the nation and urged all citizens to unite in this critical hour.
From the BBC report: The three explosions in Mumbai have taken place in some of the most crowded neighbourhoods in the city.
Zaveri Bazar is a bustling market area famous for its jewellers. It has been targeted before: during the serial blasts in the city in 1993, 17 people were killed and 57 injured when a scooter packed with explosives blew up there.
Opera House, next door, is also a bustling business district teeming with traders. And Dadar, in the heart of the city, has one of the most crowded railway stations on Mumbai’s busy suburban train network.
The choice of locations makes it clear that the blasts were intended to cause maximum casualties. But early footage of one of the blast sites – a ripped-off cover of a bus shelter and a car with its glass shattered – points to a medium-level and possibly crude explosion.
So far, there is no evidence to suggest that Mumbai is under attack the way it was in November 2008. And this could easily be the handiwork of a local group.
Some comments over from the fb page:
Shyamanjun Reddy Not to worry guys… mumbai will bounce back…it will be back to business..p3 folks will hold a candle light mourning at the site and all news channels will tom tom that mumbai bounced back and bounced back with a bang..terrorism did not win…..THE BIGGEST LOOSERS ARE INDIANS AND I AM PROUD THAT I AM ONE OF THEM
Shantanu Bhagwat@Shyamanjun: So true..Your comment reminded me of this post:”The nonsense about the “spirit of Mumbaiâ€â€¦ http://satyameva-jayate.or​g/2006/07/29/the-nonsense-​about-the-spirit-of-mumbai​/
Pl also read: “Cowards cannot build nations…†http://satyameva-jayate.or​g/2008/03/03/cowards-canno​t-build-nations/ Kanchan Gupta at his best…
Its amazing how all the 3 major channels NDTV, IBN and Times are all chasing one guy with a skull cap and showing his blood soaked shirt…Not one visual of the maimed ..dead bodies of Hindus… So much for Secular reporting.
Somebody get a hold of Diggy baba, he might have got a call just minutes before this accident and he forgot to inform the police and went into the bathroom to pee (because he was scared). It was Ajmal Kasab’s birthday and Pakistan gave a wonderful gift to him. Minorities will have the first access to all the resources and the majority will have the most causalities when these blasts happen..mera bharat mahaan
Just heard BBCNews anchor refer to an attack in Mumbai in ’08 by “militants” 🙁 Reminded me of the missing “T-word†http://bit.ly/oLdtEL
@sangeethsivan’s tweet “Each and every individual needs to be vigilant – therein lies a glimmer of hope – sad but true …
My tweet in response Each and every individual needs to remember & not forget – therein lies the core of a steely resolve to fight this war
I am planning to fast until death till govt hangs kasab and afzal guru. forget this anti corruption and other stuff…lets get our basics right. I am willing to start this from HYD..anyone from HYD..please comment. I am sick and tired of this melodrama.
Its hard to get angry…tried to build up anger.. but failed….sometime I think this is what terrorist wanted from the people of India by attacking us again and again.
But I am angry and will never forgive and forget.
This is unforgiveable.It has to be the disgusting ‘work’ of the DS types in the country. They would do this to deflect attention from the issues being discussed, causing chaos instead.
Another odd thing is that some of the top leadership of the BJP is due in London on 16 July.
This killing and anarchy is calculated by or colluded with the Callous Congress types, whether Indian or American,I am sure of it.Pakistan is probably just the intermediary
So never forget.
Action Item for Secular Media..
1) Shout RESELIENCE OF MUMBAIKARS RESELIENCE OF MUMBAIKARS
2) Shout Not local involvement…
2) Get a guy with a skull cap and keep showing his blood soaked shirt
3) Call Digvijay and make statement that Hindu Terror not ruled out
4) Blame ALL politicians so that only Congress does not get blame.
5) Stop reporting on 2G..so Sonia and Manmohan get some breathing time..fill news space with Rajnikanth coming back to Chennai…or Ashs pregnancy..
6) Get Manish Tiwari to talk about Gujarat…and Yediyurappa..
7) Justify the need for Anti Communal law of NAC….
*** Update at 9am IST (14th July ’11): Death toll being placed at 18 (not 20 although some print media are still reporting 20).
Had a most annoying start to the day. Star News Headline “Mumbai ke Jazbe ko Salaam” 🙁
Sadly, remarks about the “Spirit of Mumbai” are dominating the news.
As I wrote on twitter, In short, count yrself lucky, get up, dust yrself, continue w/ life 🙁
I am tired of this “Spirit of Mumbai” http://t.co/M4Jdk61 I want action.
Predictable statements from the politicians but not one in the league of “..drag them out of the sewer and into broad daylight”
Try and start your day today by invoking MahaDev and chanting the MahaMrityunjay Mantra
More related links: Forgetting Mumbai and Tackling Terrorism: One Step at a Time
Stay safe, where ever you are.
Update from BBC Hindi http://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/india/2011/07/110713_mumbai_new_psa.shtml
Here are my views and questions on to common people especially youth on the attack. – http://narayankripa.blogspot.com/2011/07/mumbai-bomb-blasts.html
I am still waiting for the usual excuse–someone to mention Babri Masjid and Gujarat 2002 as the reason for Islamic terror India. I am sure I won’t have to wait long.
@K. Haripriya, may be this is done by RSS ! like news
One didn’t need to run a mile thinking when this would have happen. It was looming around the corner, thanks to the dereliction and callousness of our Establishment. Shying away from a potential threat from within and deliberating diverting the same threat to some ignominious figment of created imagination in the name of ‘saffron terror’ bears direct consequence to the dastardly attacks that engulfed Mumbai 13th July 2011 between 06:55 & 07:05PM. In spite of a mega tragedy like 26/11, neither the establishment nor the political think tanks currently governing the nation has measured up to the plausible threats emanating from Islamists within the country. They have obstinately refused to accept this increasing threat from within for the sake of petty vote bank politics. With the lifting of all prohibitions that was imposed on the various Islamists Organizations and in the absence of any kind of mortification for the crime committed, India has become an open market for these obnoxious anti-national elements to unleash their mission without any particular time frame.
The country is in a near state of anarchy. Dynastic predominance overrides governance. Corruption overrides honesty. Religious polarization overrides nationalism. Parochial politics overrides national welfare.
Under these strenuous and extenuating circumstances, what else can a citizen of India expect from the very establishment they voted to power with the belief they would look after them?
Are the voters to be blamed grossly? Are the politicians to be blamed outrightly? Or does the system requires revamping with the only determined focus to confront anti-nationals without compromise? Well….I will leave it there!
Can’t govern. Can’t protect. Can’t control inflation (taxes). But they can still survive. Can create tsunami of scams after scams. Can hit 272 number again and again, at will, to repeat that ‘CAN’T FEAT’.
This is the story so far post 1947.Can’t fight with their money power. Can’t fight with their muscle power. Is this the value of human life in India? Covered by a deluded LIVE & EXCLUSIVE MSM in a ‘RAINY-SPIRITED- MUMBAI’. How do I get rid of these TRAITORS? Seriously, HOW? HOW?
@Shyam
Dont fast until death for these crooked people…agitaion is alright but your life is mportant for the country..save it! Nothing can be changed by sacrificing precious life. Congress is power hunger not going to make any sense.
On Mumbai ke jazbe ko salam….
Those who says so, want to tell them. Go and ask this to victims family. Are they back to their normal routine? City can be cleaned up in one day and can boast off as resilience but the wound and the loss of loved ones can be cleaned up in one day?
It is high time Mr Manmohan Singh, P Chidambram, and, the National Security Advisor – Mr Shiv Shankar Menon, take moral responsibility and resign. They need to understand that they are incapable to protect the country and it’s people.
The National Security Council should be dissolved and so also the current Lok Sabha. We need to go for a fresh mandate.
Nothing else will help! We do not need the current set of politicians.
Leftwing liberals reaction need to be watched. They will try to shift blame away from Pakistan and Islamic extremism. Letwing liberals do not directly express support for Islamic terrorist attacks like they support Maobadi violence but that should not deceive us.
Acorn believes this to be the handiwork of Pakistan: 2. At this point, there are reasons to suspect that this attack was carried out by the Pakistani military-jihadi complex’s so-called Karachi setup (or the Karachi project).
Offstumped suggests:
India needs a permanent solution to its Pakistan problem. The path to finding that solution does not lie in rational analysis for every rational thought train gets derailed by the specter of Jihad under a Nuclear Umbrella.
The solution to India’s Pakistan problem lies in injecting some conscious irrationality into our geopolitical strategy .
Perhaps time to seriously explore this possibility: A strategic response to terror – “Balkanization†of Pakistan?
**
Separately, Thanks for sharing your thoughts (on this and other posts too)..Currently travelling so there may be some delay in moderation and more than usual in responding. Thanks for your patience and support, as always…
Dont know who is to blame… The leader is an easy option, The terrorist who did it, or we the mango people. who ever it is people have died and I condole the death of the lot and sympathize with their near and dear ones.
http://endangeredindia.blogspot.com/2011/07/amchi-mumbai.html
Why blame any one else? The people of Mumbai elected same govt in spite of 26/11. Unless and until the people of Mumbai and Maharashtra vote for their security the elite has no interest in ensuring security for its citizens. They play will the lives of innocent people for vote bank politics.
The people of Mumbai should demand justice, and show their concern at the ballot box. They should send their message at the ballot box. Then the establishment and their dalals in media will not be talking about ‘Mumbai spirit’ again and again. So called Mumbai spirit is nothing but a polite way of saying a ‘Mumbaikars life is cheap’.
http://chellaney.net/2011/07/14/why-mumbai-was-attacked/
India makes itself an easy terrorist target
Brahma Chellaney
“Increasingly, terrorism has been treated as a law-and-order issue requiring more policing and better intelligence. To regard terrorism as a law-and-order problem is to do what the terrorists want — to sap national strength. No amount of security can stop terrorism if India is reluctant to go after terrorist cells and networks and those that harbor extremists.
The ugly truth is that transnational terrorists see India as an easy target because it imposes no costs on them and their patrons.
What India needs is a concerted, sustained campaign against the forces of terror. But what a succession of leaders has offered are only words to comfort the nation. If India does not break out of this straitjacket, it will only be a matter of time before terrorists strike yet again.â€
Is Chellani suggesting surgical strikes?
There is a saying in english.”If you want peace, be prepared for war”.
Counter terrorism is the only answer to terrorism and a terrorist.
This whole idea of ‘Mumbai’s Resilience’ is total nonsense but only a cover up for the Indian governments impotence and continuous self humiliation for the country .Most Indians in Mumbai or any other parts of the country have no other choice but to go to work the very next moment after an terrorist attack for personal survival not knowing if they will even come back alive . Mumbai’s Resilience is more of an insult to the victims and survivors than something to be proud of thanks to the cowardly Indian government which only becomes suddenly brave sending thousands of policemen to beat up women and children sleeping in the middle of the night who had protested against corruption. Anyway just hope that people don’t overdose themselves with Mumbai’s Resilience’ because many more far worse terrorists attacks are coming..
If Mumbai does not want to vanish like Indus Valley Civilization then the only answer is massive retaliation. Obama is doing it in Afghanistan and Pakistan – why can’t it be done to the enemy within the country whom it is not difficult to identify?
I dont understand the hype and hoopla thats going on with this blasts. Dont know why anybody should be surprised or anybody expected anything different. In India –
1. 90% of the “executive” is corrupt. Both central and State.
2. 60-70% of the bureaucrats are corrupt. It will be higher at the state level and local level.
3. 90% of the political class is corrupt.
4. 90% of the Police force is corrupt
5. There is no Governance in any part of the country.
6. 50% of the Indian Judiciary is corrupt. Higher the level, the more corrupt they are.
7. Indian Military is impotent to say the least. There isn’t a clear Military/defense strategy at all.
8. There is no border security at all. Nationwide the borders are as porous as it could get.
So obviously a bomb blast here and there and a massive 26/11 like attack or a Chinese incursion or a Kargil Intrusion, etc. shouldn’t be a surprise at all. I was only surprised it took almost 3 years to see another bomb blast in Mumbai.
The bottom line is India is a failed state. So we should be seeing or expecting more of these than less of it.
1. This is not the last terrorist attack or not the only way people will loose their lives unnecessarily. I hope we haven’t forgotten the 70 odd lives lost in train accident couple of days ago. Who has the onus? Do you think someone will be held accountable for this? Nope!
2. Solution to all that ails India is not difficult but it will take time. Only a new political alternative can change things for good in India.
3. Other than 2. there is no solution. Every other solution (fasts etc.) is just like applying band-aid plaster to a cancerous tumour.
Jai Hind
Every time such an attack on innocent people within Bharat takes place there is loud noise from ministers who condole and show concern by doling out a few thousands to the affected families.Again and again blame is put on terrorism from outside / Indian Mujahideen is blamed and then once again our nation ‘bounces’ back and slowly everyone forgets the victims.
The press praises the great way in which our people regain their spirits etc etc.
I was today listening to a radio discussion on the latest scandal that has shaken Britain regarding Rupert Murdoch and his paper News of the World.
There have been full page apologies from RM.One of the persons in the discussions said “we are happy to note that we are still a country that can be shocked. We may be skeptical but we are not cynical “.
In our land we can expect anything and yet not be shocked.
No one cares for the nation at large.Does any minister feel for the country at large- he only thinks of sticking to his chair as long as possible!
Such terrorist acts of killing innocent people can be stopped by the government once and for all but then what will happen to their vote bank?
Who knows whether they themselves paid money for such blasting activities in order to distract the common man’s most recent concern and resolve to fight against corruption!!!
When will the plight of our fellow Indians change for the better???
When will we have a clean and honest government?
@bhuvan – Brahma is not suggesting surgical options but lets assume he is. The larger question to answer however is Does India have the capability to do it?
@ Chandra.One squardon is enough to take care of that, but it needs political will which often look towards Washington DC right from the Brasstacks days and more since 99.
@bhuvan, may be true but you should be prepared for a full scale war. I seriously doubt the war preparedness of the Military. The last time India fought a full scale war was 40 years ago. At that time you had an almost uncorrupted Military with strong Military and Political leadership. In 2011, India’s Military is atleast 20-30 yrs behind in terms of technology, ageing Air force and other defense equipments. Add the political chaos and the poor Military leadership into the mix, you will know the War preparedness of the country.
Finally one of the mainstream media in India (at least NDTV) seems to be getting the message and it is acknowledging the fact the most people are angered with the sheer mention of the term “spirit of mumbai”..
..however they now seemed to have found something else to talk about- how the response to the attack has improved taking into account the lessons learned from previous incidents!! NOT!!…
@ Chandra. What is preparedness? Are you prepared to join armed forces and protect India’s border?
@bhuvan, I thought I had explained the preparedness I was talking about. However if you are unclear, you may want to detail your question.
As regards to your second question – I’m not sure how relevant is your question to the topic under discussion but to answer – I’m not.
@ Chandra. It’s definately relevant and it shows the mental preparedness or readiness on your part. And the answer is NO you are not ready.
Wars are still fought more on mental preparedness backed up by technological firepower. It would have been much easier for you to understand if you have fought or participated in any WAR. Do not worry about our armed forces mental and technical capability( I am telling you from my experience) but if there is any point which needs to be examined, it is the lack of political will because of the NWO and geo-political issues leading to business interests which has dominated the decision making in the last few decades. India is not Vietnam but even Vietnam also took the mighty Americans on task. Pen pushers never fought any war, they only ‘discuss’ the points which they never ever experienced in their life. I don’t see any solid reason to continue this ‘debate’.
Please also check out what the Mumbai Police has to go through..some key posts in Mumbai Police are almost 50% vacant and in 3 yrs 23,000 policemen were deployed for VIP security.. http://www.wahsarkar.com/?p=589
@bhuvan, thanks for your response. Even though I do not agree with your opinion, I definitely agree with you that there is no point in continuing this debate.