13th July: Another Black Day in Mumbai

Once again 13th became the black date for Mumbai. Although it was not the Friday, but it was one of the worst day for World's largest democracy. Terrorists hit the business capital of India on 13th Jul'11. The terrorists plotted the blast in three major regions of Mumbai. Bombs were planted in Dadar, Zaveri Bazaar, and Opera House areas. All of these areas are packed with the crowd daily and the day the serial bomb blasts took, they were fully packed.

Looking for clues, Maharashtra's ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) has sent the teams to various locations in India and prepared a sketch of the suspect based on eyewitness accounts. A senior Anti-Terrorism Squad officier said that the sketch of a suspect in Mumbai serial blasts is prepared which is responsible for the death of 19 people and 130 injured.

"Suspect's sketch is ready. It will be circulated among the selected investigating officials but it won't be released to the public," said the Anti-Terrorism Squad official. This incident raise another question on spending 100 crores on the security of Kasab, responsible for Mumbai attack two years ago. Shouldn't he be hanged till death to give the clear message to other terrorists?

Attack on Mumbai - Commandos storm Jewish center

Gunfire erupted on Friday when commandos began an operation to free Israelis held by suspected Islamist gunmen in Mumbai, while guests were also being evacuated from a luxury hotel in India's financial heart, witnesses said.

Heavily armed Indian commandos, their faces covered by balaclavas, rappelled from helicopters onto the roof of a Jewish center in what television reports said was an assault by the paramilitary National Security Guard to flush out the militants. The Jewish center was one of three pockets in Mumbai where Indian forces were battling die-hard militants more than 24 hours after brazen, coordinated attacks killed at least 121 people.

A Reuters witness said troops fired into the Jewish center, apparently to provide cover, as commandos made at least three sorties and took up positions on the roof. The building is in a crowded part of the city, making a frontal assault difficult.

Not far away, another Reuters witness said hotel guests including foreigners were being evacuated from the besieged Trident-Oberoi Hotel, one of two luxury hotels where police said militants were still holed up with an unknown number of hostages. Read the full coverage here