Article MUMBAI ATTACK ON TAJ HOTEL
Write a short note on infamous Ajmal Kasab trial-attack on the Taj at Mumbai attack.
It has been 15 years since ten young men stormed into the financial capital of the country with the sole aim of wrecking it to the core — for three consecutive days, the city of Mumbai was wrapped in the grip of terror; 15 years since Mumbai was brought down to its knees.
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was a Pakistani terrorist and a key perpetrator who was captured alive, providing valuable information to the authorities. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus was attacked by two gunmen, Ismail Khan and Ajmal Kasab. The attackers killed 58 people and injured 104 others. The attackers targeted Cama Hospital but were unable to enter as the staff locked all patient wards. Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad pursued the attackers. Expect one all other officers were killed, but Kasab was eventually arrested after a gun battle and physical struggle.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in Mumbai, India, from November 26 to 29, 2008. The attacks were carried out by ten Pakistani terrorists associated with the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The terrorists traveled from Karachi, Pakistan, to Mumbai via boat, hijacking a fishing trawler and killing the five crew members along the way. The attackers used automatic weapons to carry out the attacks at various locations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, and the Oberoi Trident Hotel. In total, 164 people were killed, and more than 300 were injured.
Six explosions were reported at the Taj Hotel — one in the lobby, two in the elevators, three in the restaurant — and one at the Oberoi Trident.
Here’s what exactly happened in Taj Hotel. About 35 Taj Mumbai employees, led by a 24-year-old banquet manager, Mallika Jagad, were assigned to manage the event in a second-floor banquet room. Around 9:30, as they served the main course, they heard what they thought were fireworks at a nearby wedding. In reality, these were the first gunshots from terrorists who were storming the Taj. Jagad realized something was wrong. She had the doors locked and the lights turned off. She asked everyone to lie down quietly under tables and refrain from using cell phones.
Elsewhere in the hotel, the upscale Japanese restaurant Wasabi by Morimoto was busy at 9:30 PM. A warning call from a hotel operator alerted the staff that terrorists had entered the building and were heading toward the restaurant. Staff immediately instructed his 50-odd guests to crouch under tables
Nearly 9:30pm two among the four terrorists, Abdul Rehman Bada and Abu Ali reached the main entrance of the Tower section, having planted a crude RDX bomb in front of the police post nearby. Armed with AK 47s, they made their way to the lobby area, firing on anyone and everyone who caught their sight.
Then the other two terrorists, Shoib and Umer, entered through the La-Pat door of the Palace at 9:43pm and started shooting down guests in the poolside area.
By midnight Mumbai Police surrounded the Taj. Many of the guests inside the hotel were huddled up by the staff into small rooms by this time. At 1 am the central dome of the hotel was bombed and there was a massive fire in the building. Soon the army and firemen arrived at the location.
Meanwhile the member of the hotel’s team of telephone operators was alerting all the guests to lock their doors and not to step out.
Karambir Singh Kang, the Taj Mumbai’s general manager left his meetings at another Taj property and arrived at the moment, supervising the evacuation of guests. His wife and 2 children were in sixth-floor, where they traditionally live. He thought they would be safe but in a short time the sixth floor was in flames, and there was no hope of anyone’s surviving.
Around 5 am the fire brigade people was extinguishing fire on 6th floor spotted that guest tried to climb out of the windows on 2nd floor, and rescued them. Mallika and other staff came at the end, making sure that the guest evacuated first. Firefighters rescued 200 hostages from windows using ladders during the first night.
Early morning hours of November 27 when a team of chefs and kitchen staff began the first round of evacuation. Staff formed a human barrier to shield their guests. Two groups were formed by marine commandos. The first group was out safely. The second group was spotted by the terrorists while they were making an exit. Gautam Singh, a tandoor chef at Taj, was one of them. He was shot dead.
Around 6:30 in the morning a team of 200 commandos reached Mumbai from New Delhi and took charge of the rescue operations in Taj. The government gave orders to storm the building. In the succeeding hours, evacuations took place in batches. At 4: 30 pm the terrorists set fire to a room on the fourth floor of the building.
On November 28th, a series of alarming events unfolded within the premises. A total of ten grenade explosions were reported to have occurred. The situation escalated further at 7:30 pm when another round of explosions and firing took place, adding to the chaos and uncertainty.
Finally on November 29 at 8:00 am the Indian commandos announced that the Taj had been cleared of all the terrorists.
In conclusion, Ajmal Kasab played a significant role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. His capture provided valuable information to the authorities about the planning and execution of the attacks. Despite the multiple casualties and widespread destruction, the resilience and bravery of the hotel staff and commandos ultimately prevailed, turning the Taj into a symbol of hope and resilience. That something that was supposed to be a symbol of terrorism is today a beacon of hope.
