New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) As the horrors of the 26/11 strike in Mumbai came back to haunt India, people from all walks of life Thursday remembered the day and spoke out against terror -- in the hallowed portals of parliament and on the streets, inside homes and in seminar halls.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar: "Today is a very solemn day. The house salutes the indomitable courage of the security forces who gave a crushing blow to the terrorists on Nov 26, 2008, and the fortitude of the people of Mumbai. On this day the house resolved to unitedly fight and defeat the forces of terrorism and never again allow them to spill the blood of innocent people." 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan: "We shall leave no stone unturned to protect Mumbai and its citizens." 

Taj Mahal Palace and Tower General Manager Karambir Kang, who lost his wife and two children in the attack: "A lot of planning goes into dealing with such attacks. We are not dealing with any ordinary people but terrorists here who are fully prepared for everything." 

Survivor Khurshid: "I lost my friend that day. He was trying to save my life when he got shot. I have lost my faith in humanity. You can try to do anything now, but those who are dead will not come back." 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) announcer Vishnu Dattaram on duty that night: "As soon as my family heard about the attacks they called me. I assured them that I am fine but people around me are not." 

Leopold Cafe co-owner Farhang Jehani: "After people recovered from the pain that they went through they came back to Leopold's to have their favourite dishes. Even today Leopold's is their favourite eating joint." 

Survivor Viju Chavan: "I was pregnant at the time of the attack. After that incident people told me to name my daughter 'Goli'. Even today, my daughter is referred to as 'Goli' and not by her real name." 

Survivor Madhu Kapoor: "We had not imagined that something like this would happen in a five star hotel. Let alone (in Taj hotel). Terrorism was perceived as something which one reads in newspapers and not something which happens in real life. That day opened our eyes." 

Rear Admiral (Retd.) Vijay Shankar: "What is missing today is the absence of a real anti-terror combat strategy."

National Security Guards (NSG) Deputy Inspector General Govind Singh Sisodia: "The security agencies of Britain, Germany, France and Japan have contacted NSG. Everyone wants to know more about the successful completion of one of the most horrid terrorist strikes in the world."

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan : "It was a very tragic event, but good thing that happened was that the tragedy brought the people of Mumbai together and closer." 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shaina NC, who is also a fashion designer: "People want to unite, they want to jointly tackle the common challenges confronting them like terror. That is the reason the 1.5 km wall at Marine Lines has got several thousand messages." 

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar: "I remember the indomitable spirit that let us go on. Director Priyadarshan insisted on continuing the work with full strength to defy the terrorists. And now the film is coming, one year and a day after the incident." 

Photographer who shot Kasab firing not proud of his pictures

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) The only photographer who clicked Pakistani terrorists killing innocents at Mumbai's largest railway station says he is not proud of his iconic pictures although they have won him global fame.

Sebastian D'Souza can never forget the cold-blooded massacre he witnessed at the Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station on this day last year as he risked his life to capture on camera the terrorists in action -- a rarity in photo journalism. 

"Technically they are great pictures. They are the first pictures in the world of terrorists in action," Sabby, as the photographer is popularly known, said in a telephonic interview. 

"What I saw was not a great person. He is just a killer. He has killed our citizens� From that point of view, it not a great picture for me," the 57-year-old told IANS. 

"Had he been a great guy, then I would have been very proud of my pictures. What happened that day is a sad thing, what he did was bad," he said. 

One of the two killers photographed at the railway station was Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab, the only one of 10 Pakistani terrorists to be taken alive by police. All of them had sneaked into Mumbai from Pakistan by sea and attacked select targets, killing 166 Indians and foreigners. 

But Sabby, who has been a Mumbai-based photographer since 1981, added that the 100 frames he shot that day within 45 minutes, hiding behind pillars and in deserted trains, were now "iconic pictures" and had been reproduced in practically every country. 

And in the ongoing trial against Kasab, when the terrorist was shown the pictures of men, women and children who bled to death at the railway hub, the Pakistani broke down. 

"When he saw the pictures, he cried," Sabby said. "I was standing facing him. We looked at one another. I was looking at a guy who had tried to kill me too. Suddenly, all of a sudden, Kasab hung his head. He did not look into my eyes any more." 

Sabby was in his Mumbai Mirror newspaper office Nov 26 last year when he was told that gunfire had erupted at the seafront Taj luxury hotel.

Armed with his Nikon D200 camera, Sabby rushed out. 

"Our office is right across the (railway) terminus. I heard sounds coming from inside. So I decided to take a look at the station instead of going to the Taj." 

Sabby went in, ignorant of what was going on. The otherwise busy station wore a deserted, eerie look. 

"I realized very soon that they were terrorists. But I could not see anybody. I looked for them...

"Suddenly I saw them. They were far away. They had finished people killing everyone in the waiting lounge. They had spared no one. 

"When they started firing (again), I thought, oh my god, it is time for my pictures," Sabby said.

But they were far away, Sabby recalled.

"There was a policeman with a rifle. I told him to fire. We were at an exit where there was a popcorn shop and a bookstall. The popcorn seller was closing his shop. Suddenly he got shot. He fell. 

"I ran away from there. I entered a (deserted) train. The terrorist came near there. I felt it was too close for comfort. I slowly got off that train and went over to another platform.

"By then they had trapped three policemen and shot them. Two of them died."

Sabby waited. 

"I wanted pictures. I went to platforms three and four. Again I waited. I did not know from which direction they (terrorists) would come. 

"Again I saw them. Hurriedly I took two pictures. Then they turned towards me. I immediately hid behind a pillar. 

"Mercifully, they were engaged in crossfire with the police." 

He then saw both terrorists going into a train, probably to reload.

"As ill luck would have it, a train moved into the station just then. But there were very few passengers. I told everyone to get out real fast. 

"I now heard firing from platform number one. At one point, the killers came towards me after lobbing grenades at the station. It was like close, very close. I decided not to stay where I was.

"By then, both the terrorists had left the station. So I went back to where they had done all the killings. I clicked lots of pictures. I also saw the dead policemen, with who I was talking to some time back." 

Nobody was there, said Sabby. People lay dead and bleeding with no one to help them.

"When people hiding here and there saw me, they all came out� They probably thought if a photographer has reached the spot, then there must be no danger. No one realised that I had been there for a long time." 

Mumbai welcomes Force One to guard city against terror

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) As India mourned victims of the 26/11 terror attack, the Maharashtra government Thursday unveiled Force One, an elite force to secure Mumbai against terrorists.

Designed on the lines of the National Security Guard (NSG), Force One with 256 men and officers took out a march from Nariman Point to Chowpatty, along the four-kilometre sea front. 

For a city where public parades are rare, the occasion was irresistible. Thousands lined the Marine Drive and many more craned their necks out of skyscrapers of Nariman Point and scores of old buildings. 

Clad in their black dungarees, the Force One guards - handpicked from the Mumbai Police - marched smartly and confidently. 

Many people, especially women and children, cheered and waved out to the men. 

The force has been specifically trained by the NSG and foreign experts to take on terrorists. 

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan declared the Force One operational Tuesday. 

Chavan said it would help make Mumbai -- India's financial capital and Bollywood hub -- more secure and complement the efforts of the other security agencies in the city including police, quick response teams as well as the Anti-Terrorism Squad. 

"Force One shall be provided with all the required equipment, infrastructure and facilities to enable them carry out their duties effectively," Chavan said. 

Force One's headquarters and training centre are located on an 100-acre campus inside the lush green Aarey Milk Colony at Goregaon in northwest Mumbai. 

The need for a special force on the lines of the NSG was felt after the Nov 26-29 Mumbai terror attacks of last year that left 166 Indians and foreigners dead. 

Force One is headed by a deputy inspector general of police.

Kasab's lawyer found lying, judge threatens to replace him

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) A question mark hangs over the continuation of S.G. Abbas Kazmi as the lawyer for 26/11 terror attack accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab after the special court found him guilty of lying Thursday - the first anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The issue rocked the special court when Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam expressed his intention to seek the court's permission to examine 340 more formal witnesses in the terror attacks trial. 

These would be in addition to the 271 witnesses already examined so far in person by Nikam in the past nearly eight months during the trial.

"However, these would be examined only through affidavits filed by them, and then it would be up to the defence lawyer whether to summon them for cross-examination or not," Nikam told IANS. 

Upon Nikam's submission, Kazmi got up and said he was not informed of this development. 

Nikam, however, pointed out to Special Judge M. L. Tahaliyani that not only had he expressed his intention to examine the formal witnesses through an affidavit right at the early stages of the trial in May, but on Nov 17 even sent all the copies of the 340 affidavits to Kazmi. 

Accepting his contention, Tahaliyani termed Kazmi's denial as "a crystal clear lie" and said that all this had happened in the open court in the presence of the defence lawyer. 

"How can you now deny it?" Tahaliyani demanded of Kazmi. 

The defence lawyer said that he was not aware that the prosecution would be examining these 340 witnesses through affidavits. 

Tahaliyani warned that if the defence lawyer continued with such an attitude, the court would have to consider whether he should be allowed to continue with the trial or not. 

Nikam said that if Kazmi tendered an unconditional apology, then he should be allowed to continue. Otherwise, the special court could take a decision in the matter. 

Kazmi said if the court so desired, he was prepared to withdraw from the case. 

Tahaliyani has kept the matter for his ruling Friday. 

Meanwhile, Nikam - who was planning to complete the ongoing examination of witnesses Thursday - said that the new list of 340 formal witnesses would not have delayed the trial in any manner, barring the delays from the defence side. 

In case Kazmi is replaced, he will be the second defence lawyer for Kasab to face the axe.

Advocate Anjali Waghmare was removed earlier this year after the special court found her guilty of professional misconduct, resulting in clash of interests following her appointment to represent Kasab. 

Jews around the world mark 26/11, with resolve 'to do good'

London, Nov 26 (IANS) A year after terrorists killed six people in Nariman House, Jews around the world are marking the event - not in sorrow or anger, but to "keep the spirit of Mumbai alive".

Across the world, Jews have been holding events to mark the passing of the first year since the attacks on Nariman House - one of 3,000 centres belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch, described as an international Jewish educational and social welfare organisation. 

Curry evenings, readings from religious texts, writing the Torah and pledges to "do good" have marked events held in provincial centres throughout Britain and elsewhere, including on the internet, where tens of thousands of pledges have been posted.

"Today, instead of lamenting, we are concentrating on adding to the good, so that we can keep the spirit of Mumbai alive," said Rabbi Betzi Sudak of the main Chabad headquarters in Britain. 

"Nariman House to Jews all over the world has become a symbol of all that is good. There is so much good coming out of that centre. The events of 26/11 became a symbol of the contrast between good and evil," he told IANS Thursday. 

Sudak has just returned from attending a memorial event in New York, where some 5,000 Jews, including 3,000 Rabbis, wrote a Torah, the Jewish holy book. 

An organizer at the Chabad centre in Nottingham said Jews in that English city had held two 'Indian dinners' to mark the anniversary. Similar events are being held in Oxford and other places in Britain. 

The biggest international event is planned for Nov 29, when Jews from around the world, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Nobel peace prize winner and holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, will mark the anniversary. 

The global Mumbai Memorial Tribute has been titled 'One year later, standing strong'. 

"More people die from car accidents than from terrorist attacks, but terrorists want to make us doubt our humanity and doubt ourselves. What we have to do is remember the outpouring of faith and goodwill that we saw in Mumbai," said Rabbi Sudak. 

"If just 10 people can do so much evil, think of all the good the rest of us can do together." 

The terrorist attack on Nariman House claimed the lives of its directors, the young Israeli couple Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg, and four others - Rabbis Bentzion Chroman and Leibish Teitelbaum, Nora Shwartzblatt-Rabinowitz and Yocheved Orpaz. 

Gavriel, 29 and Rivkah, 28, had moved to Mumbai in 2003 and are survived by their son Moshe, who was rescued by his Indian Nanny Sandra Samuel and now lives with his grandparents in Israel. 

26/11 redux: India unites in remembering 26/11 victims

Mumbai/New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) It was a day of vivid recall, of remembrances public and private, of recrimination and also resolve as India Thursday paused in its tracks to rewind to the traumatic night of Nov 26 last year and the 60 hours of terror that followed.

They went to school, college and office but the fear and helplessness of that day was never far from the mind as Indians across the country and the world mourned the 166 dead in India's most wounding terror strike that had left behind scars perhaps never to be healed. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was away in the US, spoke in Washington about "remembrance and homage to all the innocent civilians and our brave men in uniform" who died in the attack. 

In the national capital, parliament began with two minutes silence and a resolution in the Lok Sabha to wage a united war against terror. In Kanpur, the cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka began with a similar homage. Tributes to the brave who died - and those who survived - were held in many cities with citizens collecting at designated places holding aloft lit candles and pledging for peace. 

And all thoughts were with Mumbai, India's thriving commercial capital that was ravaged by 10 terrorists who came by boats from Pakistan on the night of Nov 26 to begin a bloody siege that ended only on the afternoon of Nov 28. Only one terrorist was caught alive, Pakistani Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, whose trial is far from complete. 

As crowds gathered at the Gateway of India, the two luxury hotels ravaged by the attacks, Chabad House, Leopold Cafe, Marine Drive, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station -- every place the terrorists had left a bloody imprint - the anger was palpable. 

"We want Kasab to be hanged," said a young teen outside the Gateway of India. "We are all furious. You can protect ministers but what about us?" added another man standing next to her. 

That the Lok Sabha, which started with Speaker Meira Kumar's resolution "to unitedly fight and defeat the forces of terrorism", degenerated into an ugly war of words between BJP's Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion led to dismay. 

Advani alleged that the disbursal of relief to the victims was slow, prompting heated exchanges and finally, Mukherjee shouting at BJP MPs: "You are making politics on 26/11."

It took Meira Kumar to remind the house that "today is a very solemn day".

While many seethed at politicians fighting on what should have been a "special occasion", other focused on mourning for the day that had shaken them out of their apathy and introspecting on what lay ahead. 

Memories of that night were uppermost.

Thousands of commuters rushing to their offices halted to pay respects to those slaughtered in the blaze of bullets at the CST, Mumbai's oldest and largest rail hub. 

The newly created elite Force One, created on the lines of the elite National Security Guard, made its first public appearance when it marched through parts of the affected areas in Mumbai.

Also on display were security forces displaying an array of sophisticated weapons, bulletproof vehicles and amphibian boats.

"We shall leave no stone unturned to protect Mumbai and its citizens," Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said, as everyone -- from the celeb to the ordinary person -- relived the trauma. 

"It is a friend's wedding anniversary. Now the joy of that day is gone forever. Now 26/11 is a day of terror forever," said Bollywood veteran Hema Malini. 

Added her younger colleague Bipasha Basu: "I want terrorism to be wiped off the face of the earth. Is that asking for too much?" 

Domestic worker Suvarna Kamble said she was amazed at the sheer courage displayed by Mumbaikars. 

"I came to Mumbai only three months before the terror attack, but I was amazed by the sheer grit of the city. A year later, I feel safer and more confident of living in this big city." 

The 1.5 km wall at Marine Drive was full of messages at 5 a.m. itself and thousands more came to read them. 

"People want to unite, they want to jointly tackle the common challenges confronting them like terror� that is the reason the 1.5 km wall at Marine Lines has got several thousand messages," said BJP leader Shaina NC. 

Some moments will stay on forever - even for somebody like little 'Goli', or bullet, who was not even born at that time. 

Viju Chavan, a worker in Mumbai who was shot in the stomach, said with a smile at the oddities of fate: "I was pregnant at the time of the attack. After that incident, people told me to name my daughter Goli. Even today, my daughter is referred to as Goli, not by her real name." 

Remember but move on undeterred, the extraordinary story of Goli may epitomise the spirit in which Mumbai -- and India -- observed the 26/11 anniversary.

Sonu Niigaam unveils 26/11 anthem for Mumbai Police

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) Playback singer Sonu Niigaam has created an anthem for Mumbai's police force to praise the spirit of both the security personnel and the average resident of India's financial and entertainment capital. The song has been created as part of the police campaign called Abhedya (Invincible) Mumbai.

Composed by Sonu and written by Subbu, National Creative Director of Linterland, the song opens in the voice of superstar Amitabh Bachchan. It was launched exclusively on BIG 92.7 FM on the eve of 26/11. 

"This song means a lot to me first as a Mumbaikar and then as the lyricist. Working with Sonu was an awesome experience and Mr. Bachchan opening the song was a dream! I am glad we all got together to create Mumbai's first anthem. I hope people like our effort," said Subbu in a statement. 

Big B is joined by leading singers like Jagjit Singh, Talat Aziz, Suresh Wadkar, Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Kunal Ganjawala, Kailash Kher, Roop Kumar Rathod, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Richa Shama and Hariharan.

Abhedya Mumbai is an effort to spread the message of solidarity and security amongst Mumbaikars with an endeavour to channel youth power towards unity and integrity.

Its next phase includes a large-scale concert by leading artists of India, managed by BIG Events for the Mumbai Police. 

Kasab 'hanged' along the banks of Ganga in Allahabad

Allahabad, Nov 26 (IANS) As the country marked the first anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, hundreds of people in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad district turned up at the bank of the Ganga Thursday to witness the "hanging" of terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab.

While Kasab waits for the judgement in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, artist Raj Kapoor prepared a sand sculpture of Kasab with a noose around his neck, projecting the terrorist at the gallows.

"I made the sculpture just to project the hatred of Indian citizens against Kasab, who along with his associates unleashed terror last year," Kapoor told reporters in the city, some 200 km from the state capital. 

"Through the sculpture, I have tried to convey the feelings of the citizens of India who want Kasab should face death penalty," he added. 

Shouting slogans like "Hang Kasab", "Jaisa mara waise maro (kill him the way he killed others)", people vented their anger against the sole surviving terrorist from the group of ten sent by the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to attack Mumbai. 

Kapoor also sculpted images of the three senior policemen killed in the Mumbai terror attack - Hemant Karkare, Shashank Shinde and Ashok Kamte. 

A number of people performed rituals as per Vedic traditions along the banks of the Ganga for the peace of the departed souls. 

"We believe our prayers to give strength and support to the martyrs' family members will be listened to by God as they have been performed at this sacred land where there is a confluence of three holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati," said Satti Prasad, a priest.