26/11: Two years on, security still lax at railway stations

Little has been done to improve security at railway stations in Mumbai, even two years after terrorists gunned down hundreds of passengers at the city’s biggest terminal.

MiD DAY reports:

The security of the city’s railway stations continue to be in  limbo as the tenders for the Integrated Security Systems (ISS, see box) are yet to floated.

The ISS was planned on a high-priority basis in the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attacks. But a year-and-a-half after the railway authorities planned to float the tenders, nothing has come of it yet.

Meanwhile, with the government doing little to help victims of the terror attack, a disillusioned family has written to Maharashtra home minister R R Patil. Harish Gohil was among those gunned down, and his niece Priti has now written to Patil. NDTV reports the contents of her letter:

Dear Patil sahib,

Two years ago, my uncle Haresh Gohil was shot outside his house when armed terrorists tried to enter Nariman House on November 26.

He was the first graduate in our family of 17, and had just landed a decent job before the terror attack.

It was his childhood dream to be able to buy a house for his ailing mother. That dream died with him on that fateful night.

I wanted to remind you that on the first anniversary of the terror attack you graced our locality with your presence and offered shradhanjali for the victims. Our hopes were very high as we waited from morning to evening to be able to have a word with you.

But that was not to be, as you are a busy man. You arrived, folded your hands before a picture of Harish, paid your condolences and left. None of the family members had a chance to say anything to you. You are a busy man, mantriji.

I have heard that you went to visit one of the terrorists at Arthur Road jail yesterday. It was very kind of you to spare time to meet and talk to a cold-blooded killer. This man gunned down several innocent people that also included top police officers.

You opened up to him and spoke to him, you have a big heart mantriji.

If you don’t mind, may I present a humble request to you sahib? Me and my family have been running from pillar to post to try and request for a house for Haresh’s widowed mother.

It took us six months just to get a babu to accept our petition. I know you are a busy man sahib, but if you can go all the way to Arthur Road to meet and greet Kasab, a minute of your time is all I am requesting for.

I hope you will oblige us.

Preeti Gohil

Union home minister P Chidambaram will join Mumbaikars to pay his respects to victims of the attack, which claimed nearly 200 lives in 2008. ANI reports:

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will participate in a commemoration function that would be held at the CNG filling station in suburban Borivli on Friday morning on the second anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora will also be present at the function to remember those killed during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

P Unnikrishnan, the father of National Security Guard (NSG) commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who has undertaken a cycle tour from India Gate in Delhi, will join a peace march at the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

A candle-lit silent prayer rally will be organised by the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, and the family members of 26/11 victims, from Cama Hospital lane to St Xavier’s college in South Mumbai to mark the occasion.