Mumbai, November 26, 2009, (Pal Telegraph) - Ceremonies are being held in Mumbai (Bombay) to mark the first anniversary of a series of devastating attacks on the Indian city by militants.
Police have paraded in the city and later a memorial will be inaugurated and a candle-lit prayer service held.
The attacks, which began on 26 November 2008 and lasted nearly three days, left 174 people dead, including nine gunmen.
The only surviving attacker, Pakistani Mohammad Ajmal Qasab, is currently on trial in India.
On Wednesday, a court in Pakistan charged seven people in connection with the attacks, including alleged mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi - head of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The Mumbai gunmen staged co-ordinated attacks at a number of sites, including the CST railway station, two luxury hotels and the Nariman House Jewish community centre.
'Points of light'
On Thursday, Mumbai's policemen and commandos marched in a parade and displayed the force's newly acquired equipment, including amphibious patrol boats and "rapid intervention" vehicles, reports the BBC's Prachi Pinglay in the city.
The equipment has been purchased under a $26m (£16m) modernisation plan to strengthen resources.
The security forces were criticised for their handling of the attacks, and have been using the anniversary to demonstrate their improvements - including the launch of an anti-terrorism commando unit.
Local people have also been lighting candles in front of the Oberoi-Trident hotel and a popular cafe, both of which were targeted during the attack, our correspondent says.
"We just wanted to show our support and show that we care," said Subir Kumar Singh, who left a written message outside the Leopold Cafe.
Ceremonies marking the anniversary began on Wednesday, with groups around the city holding vigils.
In southern Mumbai, diplomats and local faith leaders attended a service at a synagogue, where candles were lit for the victims.
Six people were killed in the attack on the Jewish Chabad Lubavitch community centre, including its rabbi, Gavriel Holtzberg, and his pregnant wife, Rivki.
Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, head of a relief fund for the victims at the centre, spoke of the community's resolve.
"We will turn the horrific memories of a year ago into thousands of points of light and we will continue with faith in God that He will protect us," he said.
Dozens of people painted slogans on a wall in southern Mumbai, where the attacks were concentrated.
One read: "We want to make sure 26/11 is not just forgotten."
On Wednesday, a small group of people who were gathered for a vigil outside the Taj Mahal Hotel - one of the attackers' targets - called for more police reform.
On Thursday, a candle-lit prayer service is planned at the Gateway of India monument, near the hotel.
Services are also being held at other sites of attacks, including the CST railway station and Nariman House.
The attacks led India to suspend peace talks with Pakistan. In July Indian PM Manmohan Singh said talks would not restart until the Mumbai attacks suspects had been brought to justice.
Following Pakistan's announcement on Wednesday of charges, he said he welcomed "every step" by Pakistan to rein in the attackers.
- BBC
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Thursday, 26 November 2009
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