Mumbai, Nov 26: Seventeen years after the horrific Mumbai terror attacks — the 26/11, the nation paused on November 26 to pay tribute to the 166 lives lost and the extraordinary courage displayed by security personnel and civilians during the three-day siege that shook India to its core.

On that fateful night in 2008, 10 operatives from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba infiltrated Mumbai via the sea and unleashed coordinated assaults across South Mumbai. Armed with automatic weapons and grenades, they targeted iconic landmarks including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Café, and Nariman House. More than 300 people were injured in addition to the devastating death toll.

The attacks were met with remarkable acts of bravery. Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble of Mumbai Police, armed only with a lathi, confronted terrorist Ajmal Kasab at Girgaum Chowpatty. Despite being riddled with bullets, Omble held onto Kasab’s rifle, enabling his capture alive — a breakthrough that provided crucial intelligence. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra.

The police force suffered grievous losses, with Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare, Encounter Specialist Vijay Salaskar, and Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte ambushed and killed near Cama Hospital. Their sacrifice remains etched in the city’s memory.

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The National Security Guard’s operation to reclaim the Taj Hotel was led by Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who fought relentlessly for nearly 15 hours before being fatally wounded. His last reported words to his team — urging them not to follow him for their own safety — epitomised selflessness. He too was posthumously honoured with the Ashoka Chakra.

Courage extended beyond the forces. Taj Hotel staff risked their lives to protect guests. Banquet manager Mallika Jagad calmed panicked visitors, while senior waiter Thomas Varghese ensured safe evacuation before being shot dead. General Manager Karambir Singh Kang coordinated rescue efforts even as his wife and two sons perished inside.

Other police personnel, including ASI Balasaheb Bhosale, Constable Vijay Khandekar, and SI Prakash Pandurang More, who endured multiple bullets and a grenade blast, are remembered for their sacrifice.

Seventeen years on, 26/11 remains a solemn reminder of the human cost of terrorism and the indomitable spirit of those who stood tall against unimaginable odds.