The National Security Guard (NSG) will host a special memorial event at Mumbai’s Gateway of India on Wednesday to mark 17 years of the 26/11 terror attacks. The commemoration, themed “Neverever”, will honour the martyrs, survivors and all victims of the 2008 tragedy, while renewing the pledge that such an attack must never be allowed to happen again.
Students join pledge to reinforce Mumbai’s resolve
A dedicated memorial zone at the venue will display photographs and names of the fallen heroes, where visitors can leave floral tributes and candles. A symbolic “living memorial” will also be created from the wax of these homage candles and preserved for future observances.
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Students from 11 colleges and 26 schools will take part in a pledge under the “Neverever” theme, reaffirming youth commitment to peace, vigilance and national security, PTI reported. A pledge booth and message-writing corner will allow citizens to leave personal notes for martyrs and survivors.
The programme will also include felicitation of survivors and families of those who sacrificed their lives, along with specially curated audio-visual segments revisiting the events of that night. In the evening, the Gateway of India will be illuminated in the tricolour, with the word “Neverever” projected across the monument.
Assistant Police Inspector Hemant Bawdhankar, who helped intercept terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the attack, recalled how the memories of that night remain vivid even after 17 years. He honoured colleagues including Tukaram Ombale, Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, and others who were martyred during the operation.
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On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists launched coordinated attacks across Mumbai. 166 people were killed in total, including security personnel and foreigners, and over 300 were injured.
Ajmal Kasab who was the lone surviving terrorist, was sentenced to death in 2010 and hanged in 2012.
