Study of Terrorist Attacks on Mumbai

In the 21^st century terrorism became emergence problem in the world. Mumbai, finance city of India, capital city of Maharashtra always suffer from this problem of terrorist attacks. In last ten years nine times terrorist attack on Mumbai. In those attacks so many innocent people lost their life. In this paper study on when, where terrorist attack on Mumbai? How many people are victim? What are the perspectives & intention of Terrorist groups? Role & responsibility played by government after those attacks are discussed in this paper.

Terrorism is something which all over the world is a major problem at this moment. Its effects are very much that it can determinate a country's economy and can cause between the countries. Mumbai the capital city of Maharashtra is not free from it. Terrorism is not new, and even though it has been used since the beginning of recorded history it can be relatively hard to define. Terrorism has been described variously as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable abomination. Obviously, a lot depends on whose point of view is being represented. Terrorism has often been an effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict. As an asymmetric form of conflict, it confers coercive power with many of the advantages of military force at a fraction of the cost. Due to the secretive nature and small size of terrorist organizations, they often offer opponents no clear organization to defend against or to deter.

Definition of Terrorism:

The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.” Within this definition, there are three key elements—violence, fear, and intimidation—and each element produce terror in its victims.

The FBI uses this: "Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."

The U.S. Department of State defines "terrorism" to be "premeditated politically-motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.

Terrorist attacks in India:

Since 2001, India is always suffered from terrorist attack.

2001: Indian Parliament– 2002: 1^st Raghunath temple – Akshardham temple – kolkata – Kaluchak massacre – Qasiminagar massacre – Rafigange train – 2 nd Raghunath Temple – Mumbai 2002 – Kurnool Train – 2003: 1 st Mumbai 2003 – 2 nd Mumbai 2003 – 3 rd Mumbai 2003  – 2005: Ayodha-Delhi 2005– – jaunpur train – 2006: Varanasi – Jama Masjid – Doda Massacre – Mumbai 2006 – Malegaon – West Bengole Train – 2007: Samjhauta Express – Mecca Masjid – Hydrabad – Uttar Pradesh – 2008: Jaipur – Banglore –Ahmedabad – 1 st Delhi 2008 – 2 nd Dehli 2008 – Malegaon/Modasa – Agartala – Imphal – Assam – Mumbai 2008 – 2009: 1 st Guwahati – 2 nd Guwahati – 2010: pune – Dantewada – Gyaneshwari Express

In the recent history Home Minister Shivraj Patil presided over one of the bloodiest periods in India.In four & half years 17 terrorist attack in India.

Terrorist Attacks in Maharashtra:

We see above terrorist attacks in India, Mumbai has been the most preferred target for most terrorist organizations, primarily the separatist forces from Pakistan .Over the past few years a series of attacks including explosions in local trains in July 2006, to the most recent and unprecedented attacks of 26 November 2008, where two of the prime hotels, a landmark train station and a Jewish Chabad house, in south Mumbai, were attacked and siege.

1.      12 March 1993 - Series of 13 bombs go off killing 257

2.      06 December 2002 - Bomb goes off in a bus in Ghatkopar killing 2

3.      27 January 2003 - Bomb goes off on a bicycle in Vile Parle killing 1

4.      14 March 2003 - Bomb goes off in a train in Mulund killing 10

5.      28 July 2003 - Bomb goes off in a bus in Ghatkopar killing 4

6.      25 August 2003 - Two Bombs go off in cars near the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar killing 50

7.      11 July 2006 - Series of seven bombs go off in trains killing 209

8.      26 November 2008 to 29 November 2008 - Coordinated series of attacks killing at least 172

9.      13 February 2010, a bomb explosion at the German Bakery in Pune killed fourteen people, and injured at least 60 more. We can see that Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra, the financial capital of India, always suffer from terrorist attack.

Terrorist attack on Mumbai in 21^st century:

·         6 December 2002 Mumbai bus bombing

On 6 December 2002, a bomb placed under a seat of an empty B.E.S.T. bus exploded near the busy Ghatkopar station. The bomb was placed in the rear of an empty bus parked near the station and killed two people and injured 28. There were no passengers in the bus at that time and the people who were killed were those present in the busy station area. This was the first in a series of five bombings against the city within a period of eight months.

·         27 January 2003 Mumbai bombing

On 27 January 2003, a bomb placed on a bicycle exploded near the busy Vile parle railway station in Mumbai. The bomb killed one person and injured 28. This was the second in a series of five bombings against the city within a period of eight months.

·         13 March 2003 Mumbai train bombing

On 13 March 2003 a bomb exploded as a train pulled into Mulund Station. The bomb was placed in the first class ladies compartment and killed 10 people and injured 70. Among the ten killed were four women who were in the first class compartment and six men who were in the adjoining second class compartment. Two of the four women were police constables. This is the third in a series of five bombings against the city within a period of eight months.

·         28 July 2003 Mumbai bus bombing

On 28 July 2003 a bomb placed under a seat of a B.E.S.T. bus exploded on the busy Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Ghatkopar. The bomb was placed in the rear of the bus and killed 4 people and injured 32. A man who was riding a motorcycle behind the bus and a woman who was in a rikshaw travelling near the bus were among those killed. An eyewitness claims that the woman was thrown at least 10 feet away from the rikshaw and died on the spot. This is the fourth in a series of five bombings against the city within a period of eight months.

·         11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings

On11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings were a series of seven bobm blasts that took place over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai . The bombs were set off in pressure cookers on trains plying on the western line of the Suburban Railway network. 209 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured.

·         25 August 2003 Mumbai bombings

On25 August 2003 Mumbai bombings were twin car bombing in the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 54, and injured 244 people. One of the bomb explosions took place at the Gateway of India, which is a major tourist attraction. The other bomb went off in a jewellery market near the Mumba Devi Temple in central Mumbai. Both the bombs were planted in parked taxis and exploded during the lunch hour.

·         2008 Mumbai attacks

On 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than ten coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai by Islamic terrorists from Pakistan. The attacks, which drew widespread condemnation across the world, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308. Eight of the attacks occurred in South mumbai: at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace,Leopold Cafe,Cama Hospital, (a women and children's hospital), the Orthodox Jewish-owned Nariman House, the Metro Cinema and a lane behind the Times of India building and St.Xavier’s College. There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai's port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle. By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj hotel had been secured by Mumbai Police and security forces. An action by India's National Security Guards (NSG) on 29 November (the action is officially named Operation Black Tornado) resulted in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj hotel, ending all fighting in the attacks.

Perspectives of Terrorism:

We can see attack on Mumbai; there are three perspectives of terrorism: the terrorist, the victim, and the general publics.  The phrase “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” is a view terrorists themselves would accept. Terrorists do not see themselves as evil. They believe they are legitimate combatants, fighting for what they believe in, by whatever means possible. A victim of a terrorist act sees the terrorist as a criminal with no regard for human life.

The Intent of Terrorist Groups:
      When attack on Mumbai, following are the intent of the terrorist group commits acts of violence to -

·         Produce widespread fear

·         Obtain worldwide, national, or local recognition for their cause by attracting the attention of the media

·         Harass, weaken, or embarrass government security forces so that the the government overreacts and appears repressive

·         Steal or extort money and equipment, especially weapons and ammunition vital to the operation of their group

·         Destroy facilities or disrupt lines of communication in order to create doubt that the government can provide for and protect its citizens

·         Discourage foreign investments, tourism, or assistance programs that can affect the target country’s economy and support of the government in power

·         Influence government decisions, legislation, or other critical decisions

·         Free prisoners

·         Satisfy vengeance

·         Turn the tide in a guerrilla war by forcing government security forces to concentrate their efforts in urban areas. This allows the terrorist group to establish itself among the local populace in rural areas. 

Role of Government:

So many times Mumbai suffer from terrorist attack. Of course, it shows that the Mumbai attacks are failure of the government because:

·         . Internal Security must be run by our Government.

·         So many innocent people lost their lives in those attacks.

·         Charge Sheets yet to be filled or Charges to be Framed

·         Trial yet to start or just started

·         Maharashtra all blast cases are stayed since 2002

·         Maharashtra government imposing MOCCA & Terrorist getting stay at Supreme Court against it.

Conclusion:

As above terrorist attack on Mumbai we can conclude that-

·         9  Major Bomb Blasts in last 10 years

·         The masses feel insecure in home land.

·         Our intelligence agencies are not alert.

·         These terror attacks have revealed the true nature of our politician.

·         Many parties tried and are still trying to take the advantage of the government’s slackness for electoral purposes.

·         Internal security is very important as well as economical development and other develops matter.

·         No progress. Everything at stand-still

·         No efforts by GOI with Pakistan

·         No pursuance with International Agencies

·         Lack of coordination between Home Ministry & External Affaires Ministry

·         No support from GOI to State Investigative Agencies

Suggestions

From those terrorist attacks on Mumbai, we will conclude that:

·         Mumbai attack could be a definite one and it required extraordinary sanity from our politics. Good govern will restore the credibility of the government.  So Government and opposition must start giving enough space to make a bid for the people’s confidence.

·         An effective government, with transference in government, will command confidence of the people, with the active support of the people; the government will be able to combat terrorism.

·         It is necessary to bring a rapid economical development and raise the standard of living of the common people. Then they will actively support government in combating terrorism.

·         Here is need to promote the culture of tolerance and mutual respect for the way of life of the other communities.

·         Awareness in people to help the police is become the need of the day.  Today we need to build a strong system, well equipped with proper arms which can fight with terrorist.

References:

1.      The New Encyclopedia Britannica (MICROPAEDIA Ready References-7:694:33)

2.      http://www.terrorism-research.com/

3.      Rahmat Ali:The menace of Terrorism: Competition success Review-Jan.2009 page-42

4.      Amitabh Sinha Shivrajs tenure of internal insecurity The Indian Express 1^st Dec.2008 Page -2

5.      http://www.mha.gov.in/uniquepage.asp?Id_Pk=292 Ministry of Home Affairs

6.      http://www.freewikipedia.com

7.      http://mod.nic.in/aforces/welcome.html