Mumbai - the City of blasts

In spite of massive investments in investigations and counter-terrorism intelligence capabilities, so called defense alertness since 26/11, police forces across the country have made little progress in identifying the perpetrators of the five major urban attacks which have taken place since then.

The attacks include the February 2010 bombing of the German Bakery in Pune; the April 2010 serial bombings at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, the drive-by shooting at Delhi's iconic Jama Masjid in September 2010, and the December 2010 bombing at the Shitla Ghat in Varanasi.

In May this year, a car bomb planted outside the Delhi High Court, mercifully caused no loss of life, apparently because the electronic circuits in the explosive device malfunctioned in the extreme heat. ( it could just as well have blown the whole place up before time due to the heat).

Investigation reveal that all the five attacks are linked to members of the Indian Mujahideen — the Lashkar-e-Taiba linked terrorist group responsible for a string of attacks in several Indian cities between 2006 and 2008. Little hard evidence, however, has emerged to support the claims, though police say the available intelligence suggests that the organisation has been attempting to regroup.

On Wednesday, 13th July 2011, at least 17 people were killed and 131 injured as three blasts ripped through the city, at Dadar in central Mumbai and Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House in south Mumbai -- making it the worst terror attack since the 26/11 savagery. 

The city's lifeline, the Western Railway, Central Railway and the BEST buses had the usual crowds of office-goers this morning. And the news was filled with the spirit of Mumbai and the resilient Mumbaikars. My Question to the Home Minister and Prime Minister on their call to maintain peace and calm is how can u say that to the family of the bereaved? How does it change their day or lives?

What option do the others have but to continue with their lives and go to work / school or colleges?

As much as I love the city neither I nor the others have any option. People sent their kids to school coz they did not want to put fear into them and of course they had their daily assessments. Most people are in office because they do not have enough leave. That is the logic behind this resilience or most of it at least.

Today in the press conference the Hon'ble Home Minister says that once the culprits are identified they will be nabbed and dealt with strictly.

How? the way you are dealing with kasab? I am sure the perpetrators if alive would be contemplating surrendering. They would get free tuitions, newspapers, and BIRYANI to top it all, and all of this at our expense.

If you can spend so much money to protect a criminal and a terrorist I am sure you can do better with citizens of your own country!

I don't say that all terrorist acts can be averted. No country in the world has been able to achieve that. But its high time the government realised that the life of its citizens is not something they can trivialize. 

Homeward bound now amidst naka bandis ALL FOR OUR GOOD but Of Course after the event has occurred!