New Delhi/Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) Some moments are seared into the collective consciousness of the nation -- like 26/11. The utter helplessness came back to haunt on the first anniversary of India's most wounding terror strike, but with it was a sense of resolve as thousands prepared to gather in various cities to remember the dead and also hope for a terror-free tomorrow.

The trauma started on the night on Nov 26, 2008, when terrorists who came by boat from Pakistan sneaked into its commercial megalopolis to begin a 60-hour siege that ended only on the afternoon on Nov 28. At the end, 166 people were dead, nine of the 10 terrorists killed and India brought to its knees as horrified citizens watched masked gunmen take over a much loved city. 

It was terror in a television age played out for the world to watch. Mumbaikar or not, Indian or not, the scenes of terrorists taking over luxury hotels, a crowded station, a buzzing cafe and of top police officials being killed brought the vulnerability home.

Millions fearfully watched their television sets for three nights and three days, till the last of the terrorists were decimated in the Jewish Chabad House. The fires burning from the dome of the Taj Hotel, survivors breaking through glass to make their escape, two-year-old Moshe being brought out by his nanny from Chabad House while his parents were massacred inside... the trauma lives to this day. 

As stunned security agencies probed the hows and whys of the most daring non-military attack that penetrated into the country's most elite establishments, the government set itself a roadmap to secure India and found global backing in its war against terror. 

In a statement on the eve of the anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday: "The attacks in Mumbai last year were an outrage. No one who watched the events unfold on television will forget the way that those responsible sought to cause the greatest fear and suffering. 

"Their misguided aim was to create terror and uncertainty in the region. The government and the people of India were neither cowed nor provoked by these atrocities but stood resolute." 

A year on, the fallout has been changes in the security mindset and the premium put on strengthening internal security. Basic protocols, strategies and tactics for an appropriate response have been listed.

Making the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) - tasked with collecting intelligence in real time - fully operational has been perhaps the most tangible achievement. 

"In the last 11 months, we have been able to bust 31 terror modules. Optimising

intelligence flow and coordination between different agencies has helped vastly," said a senior security official who spoke about the valuable lessons imbibed.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who Prime Minister Manmohan Singh put in charge of internal security after public outrage over the previous home minister Shivraj Patil's seeming ineptitude, has set for himself a blazing pace to put in place critical strategies and strengthen intelligence systems, admits the country's record has been mixed.

"... there are still critical deficiencies in budget allocations for the police, recruitment, training, procurement of equipment, introduction of technology, and personnel management."

Pointing to obvious lapses when a police force equipped with old age .303 rifles took on terrorists armed with sophisticated weaponry, Manmohan Singh told police chiefs in September: "We need a new-age policeman who is more professional, better-motivated, suitably empowered, well-trained, one who places greater emphasis on technology for investigation and other tasks."

Terrorism expert Ajay Sahni believes more needs to be done at a war-footing. 

"Petty offences, which are not taken seriously by security agencies, are often found interlinked to a major terror operation. Our intelligence system should be in place. Effective security systems are needed to counter terrorism," Sahni told IANS.

Considering that Mumbai not just gripped the country's consciousness but also drew global attention, intelligence sharing with foreign countries has also received a major fillip.

It is because of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation assistance that security agencies have been able to probe the links of David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, currently in US detention, who are alleged part of the larger conspiracy behind 26/11. 

Terrorism is a beast with an extraordinary ability to transform, and the war has still a long way to go.

But it will be fought with citizens vowing not to be cowed down.

"We have to move ahead in life," said Priyanka Baliram Uke, a young manager in a private Mumbai company.

Fortified by his grief, 16-year-old Siddhant who lost his father Sushilkumar Sharma when terrorists stormed into the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in a blaze of bullets, is also determined to look ahead. 

The family has set up the Shaheed Sushilkumar Sharma Foundation in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in memory of the assistant chief ticketing inspector.

"We shall have commemorative prayer there Nov 26, organize a few children's events with the theme of peace and anti-terrorism, felicitate people who display bravery and courage in day-to-day life. We shall repeat a similar programme in Kalyan on Nov 29," said Siddhant.

For long India has managed to absorb the shock and move ahead. The lessons this time are different -- it will no longer be business as usual. 

Terror-hit hotels limp back to normal life

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) "In memory and faith that peace can come on Earth as it is in Heaven." Thus reads a scrawling handwriting in a memorial book placed at the historic Hotel Taj Mahal Palace & Tower. The book lies next to a sacred 'Tree of Life' setting, which commemorates those who laid down their lives when a handful of terrorists invaded the hotel on the night of Nov 26, 2008, and held guests and staff hostage for the next 60 hours.

The same night, another group entered the Trident-Oberoi Hotel, at Nariman Point barely a kilometre away from the Taj and two kilometres from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, where they carried out a spate of similar atrocities. 

Including foreigners, 166 people were killed in the attack which also left 264 injured or maimed. Both hotels suffered extensive infrastructure damage, in amounts running into millions of rupees. 

A year later the Taj Mahal Hotel has sprung back but cautiously and a little at a time. 

The piano man plays a soft tune in the lobby, the Starboard restaurant is bustling with people. The Sea Lounge has been restored and became operational again in May. The Coffee Shop, Shamiana, has a few odd tables occupied. 

Of the three famed restaurants fully destroyed in the attacks, the Golden Dragon reopened Nov 23, while the Harbour Bar and Wasabi are expected to throw their doors open later Wednesday, on the eve of the 26/11 attacks, said hotel spokesperson Nikhila Palat. 

The plush rooms in the heritage wing are likely to be available for booking early 2010, followed by the opening of the ballroom. 

Lined up next for renovation are the famed presidential suites which have hosted top dignitaries, royalty, presidents and prime ministers from around the world. 

At the Trident-Oberoi, normal operations are likely to begin only much later in 2010. 

Front office manager Mrudu Nair said: "We wish we could open the Trident-Oberoi sooner. Unfortunately, our atrium lobby does not permit us to open the hotel in phases. The exclusive, members-only Belvedere Club is now functional." 

Both hotels have planned private memorial services for the staff members and guests who lost their lives during the 26/11 mayhem. 

Palat said: "We are holding a special meet for our staff the morning of the anniversary. It will be a purely private affair." 

In the last one year, many national and international celebrities have stayed at the hotels as a mark of solidarity in India's fight against terror. These included US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. 

Even top class events are being held here as usual -- earlier this year, the Taj hosted the launch of the Tata Nano car which was probably the biggest media event for the Indian automobile industry so far. 

Now there are thorough and elaborate security checks before one can enter either hotel. 

However, Taj regular Bhumika Shah still feels the measures are inadequate. 

"We go through the security procedure, and feel constrained while entering the Taj. But I feel it is not enough. We need a lot more security and investigation from the government, to feel totally safe and relaxed," Shah told IANS. 

Kamte's widow takes on Mumbai Police on 26/11 attacks

Mumbai, Nov. 26 (IANS) The widow of additional police commissioner Ashok Kamte, one of the slain heroes of 26/11 terror attacks, has alleged that Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria had attempted to suppress crucial details of the sequence of events that led to her husband's death.

Vinita Kamte has also accused Maria of feigning ignorance about the location of her husband and his colleague Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who too was slain on the first night of the terrorist attacks.

Vinita was addressing the media after releasing her book, "To The Last Bullet," co-authored with Vinita Deshmukh and published by Ameya Prakashan, here Tuesday night.

In her book, she has narrated in detail how Mumbai Police created hurdles for her and did not disclose details and the sequence of events that led to her husband's death that fateful night. 

Vinita has also alleged that Maria, who is in-charge of the trial of the sole surviving terrorist, Ajmal Amir Kasab, had also declined to provide certain crucial documents pertaining to the incident. 

She has revealed how, following non-cooperation from the police, she was compelled to use the Right to Information (RTI) Act for securing every single document, including her husband's autopsy reports, which were necessary for settling his insurance claims. 

She recalled how, when she called her husband on mobile phone upon learning of the terror attacks, he had told her that he was instructed to go to Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel by the then Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor. 

But Kamte was killed near Cama Hospital, which is on the road adjacent to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), another site targeted by the terrorists. 

"While inspecting the call logs and the conversation between Gafoor and Maria, the latter had informed the former about Kamte's position at the Cama Hospital. How did he land up at Cama Hospital when he was directed to go to Hotel Taj Mahal?" Vinita asked. 

She said that Maria had refused to provide her with the call logs details, citing Section 8(h) of the RTI Act - which says that "information that may impede the process of investigations or apprehension or prosecution of offenders" should not be revealed. 

"Why did Maria feign ignorance to the then CoP Gafoor about Karkare's location at 12.56 a.m. on Nov. 27, when call logs clearly indicated that the ATS chief was at Cama Hospital rear gate, much earlier, at 11.24 am, and the fact that they were both (Kamte and Karkare) were seriously injured at that time?" Vinita asked. 

She is puzzled why such a senior officer like Maria denied that he had called Kamte at the Cama Hospital despite wireless logs showing this in the records. 

Vinita pointed out that although it is a year since the 26/11 terror attacks, many questions still keep hovering in her mind about the incident and the sequence of events that led to the killings of her husband and two other officers, Karkare and Vijay Salaskar. 

"What transpired during the entire Cama Hospital operation that left three top officers killed by terrorists continues to be a mystery," she observed. 

The book release function at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower was attended by Police Commissioner D. Shivanandhan, RTI activist Aruna Roy, and two former city police commissioners Julio Rebeiro and M.N. Singh among others. 

India has emerged stronger after 2611: Sonia

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday said that India had "emerged stronger" after the 26/11 attacks and the terrorists had also "miserably failed" to break the spirit of Mumbai.

"If the terrorists were seeking to divide our nation, create chaos and divert us from our chosen path, they miscalculated totally. India has emerged stronger," Gandhi said in a statement on the eve of the first anniversary of 26/11. 

"We have learnt many hard lessons from the tragedy of 26/11. But we have also learnt that no terrorist attack will ever be able to hit at the spirit of Mumbai and its people. If that was the aim of the terrorist strike, they miserably failed."

At least 166 people were killed in the mayhem by 10 Pakistani terrorists in India's commercial capital Mumbai a year ago. The terrorists sneaked into the city by sea and went on a killing spree at chosen spots. 

"It was an assault on a city and its spirit of vitality and enterprise, its rich pluralistic culture, where people of different faiths and communities live together in harmony. It was an assault on the very idea of India," Gandhi said.

She said it was a brutal and wanton assault on innocent men, women and children.

Saluting the memory of those who perished in the attack, she said they included unsuspecting victims whom destiny had placed in the path of terrorist bullets, the brave officers and men of Mumbai police and National Security Guard and hotel staff who were killed as they tried to shelter their guests.

"We continue to draw strength and inspiration from the heroism and humanity displayed by so many ordinary citizens who risked their lives to save others," she said, referring to work done by doctors, nurses, ambulance staff and fire department personnel.

She said in the past year the country had witnessed courage, resilience and determination by the residents of Mumbai.

Saluting the indomitable spirit of the people of India on behalf of her party, Gandhi paid homage to those who lost their lives in the attack.

26/11 survivor to host charity dinner in London

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) Deepak Kuntawala, an NRI, will probably never forget those horrific hours when Mumbai came under siege by a handful of terrorists last year. A survivor, he will host a commemorative charity dinner in London which will be attended by many film personalities, both from Bollywood and Hollywood.

Amongst those who are expected to attend the fund raiser are Prince Michael of Kent and Bollywood movie actors like Konkona Sen, Lara Dutta, Boman Irani and director Shekhar Kapoor, an official statement here said. 

Kuntawala, along with his father, was staying at the Taj hotel in Mumbai on the night of Nov 26 when terrorists attacked. While he, along with 150 other guests of the hotel, managed to escape, the ordeal of the night stayed with him. 

Back in London, he started an NGO, the DVK Foundation, which aims to help victims of the attack financially and in whatever other ways possible. 

The commemorative dinner will be hosted at the Royal Kensington Palace, London. 

26/11 victims not given entire compensation, alleges BJP

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday alleged that the victims of last year's Mumbai terrorist attacks have not received full compensation from the government and were facing harassment and red-tape in getting their grievances redressed.

"Out of 475 victims, not a single victim has got all the compensation and relief from the government. Inspite of struggle, victims are facing harassment and red tape," said a statement released here by the party's Maharashtra unit.

A delegation of BJP leaders met Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on the eve of the first anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai attacks and submitted to him complaints and grievances of the victims on the financial compensation and medical treatment.

They also met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan besides officials of the Railway Board.

The complainants include police personnel and home guards who suffered injuries, hospital staff, widows and some victims needing medical treatment, the statement said.

Referring to the status report filed by Maharashtra government before the National Human Rights Commission, the statement said: "Of 403 applications received, the prime minister had sent compensation or cheque to only 118 victims."

The statement said that Ansari and Chavan assured the delegation that relief and rehabilitation work will be completed at the earliest.

The delegation included party leaders Sanjay Dhorte, A.T. Patil, Praraprao Sonawane, Haribahau Jawale, Shripad Naik and Kirit Somaiya.

Misplacing Karkare's bulletproof vest was shoddy; Chidambaram

New Delhi, nov 26 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday admitted that it was shoddy of Mumbai Police to have misplaced the bulletproof vest of Anti-Terror Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who died fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks, and added that he was sorry for the lapse.

Chidambaram made these comments during an interview to NDTV channel Wednesday. 

Karkare was killed on the night of 26/11 near Cama Hospital along with Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar. 

Karkare's widow Kavita says she has filed an application under the Right to Information Act to locate the jacket but was told there was no sign of it.

There have been allegations that the bulletproof vest that Karkare was wearing when he was shot was defective. 

Sonu Nigaam composes song as tribute to Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) Paying tribute to Mumbai, a year after the 26/11 terror attack, singer Sonu Nigaam Wednesday unveiled a song he has composed in memory of the victims and heroes.

The song "Ungli uthe to, koi bare to, kardegi bagawat Mumbai" was unveiled exclusively at the Big FM office Wednesday. 

Written by Subbu, the song has been sung by 15 singers. 

"I composed this anthem because I thought if this has come my way, there must be some good reason behind it," Sonu said. 

Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala, Kailash Kher, Roop Kumar Rathod and Hariharan among others have sung the song. 

Even Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has lent his voice to the opening lines, before the song.