India on Tuesday marked the anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, remembering the victims, security personnel and first responders who lost their lives in one of the deadliest terror strikes in the country’s history. Political leaders, officials and those associated with the case recalled the events of November 2008, describing the attacks as a defining moment in India’s fight against terrorism.
Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said the memory of 26/11 remains vivid even years later, calling the attack one of the most ruthless terror operations India has faced. He said the manner in which terrorists carried out coordinated strikes across Mumbai highlighted the severity of cross-border terrorism and left a deep scar on the nation’s collective memory. Javadekar recalled that hundreds of civilians were killed and several police officers were martyred as terror unfolded simultaneously at multiple locations, making the incident particularly devastating.
Rajya Sabha MP and noted prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who led the prosecution in the Ajmal Kasab case, also paid tribute to those who died. Nikam said the events of that day could never be forgotten, as innocent citizens and brave police officers were killed solely because of terrorism driven by hatred. He stated that the attack was intended to spread fear and destabilise Mumbai as India’s financial capital, with the larger objective of harming the country’s economy. However, he noted that the attempt to cripple India through terror had failed.
Commemorative events were also planned in Mumbai, where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti were scheduled to pay homage to the martyrs at the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office.
The 26/11 attacks took place between November 26 and 29, 2008, when 10 terrorists belonging to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out 12 coordinated attacks across Mumbai. Key targets included hotels, a railway station and public spaces, paralysing the city for nearly three days.
The terror strikes claimed the lives of 175 people, including 26 foreign nationals, 20 security personnel and nine of the attackers. Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive, was later convicted by an Indian court and executed.
As India marks the anniversary, the attacks continue to be remembered as a turning point that reshaped national security discourse and reinforced the resolve against terrorism.
