2008 Mumbai attacks

On November 26, 2008, ten members of the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's financial capital. The attacks lasted for four days until November 29, 2008, and involved several high-profile locations including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, the Oberoi Trident Hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, and the Leopold Cafe. The attackers arrived by sea and split into groups to carry out the assaults.

On November 27, 2008, terrorists continued to hold hostages in several key locations in Mumbai. At the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, as well as the nearby Oberoi Trident Hotel and Nariman House, hostages were being held by gunmen equipped with explosives and automatic weapons. These sites saw intense fighting and strategic operations conducted by Indian security forces in an attempt to incapacitate the terrorists and rescue the hostages.

By the night of November 28, 2008, Indian security forces declared that the siege at the Oberoi Trident Hotel had ended. Commandos had systematically cleared the 35-story building of explosives and took control, rescuing the last of the hostages. The attackers had killed numerous people, and the operation to secure the hotel was deemed complete. This marked a significant turning point in dealing with the ongoing attacks.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks formally concluded on November 29, 2008, after Indian security forces managed to secure all sites, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel where the last of the heavily armed terrorists had been holed up. The devastating series of attacks resulted in the deaths of 166 people and left more than 300 injured. This multi-day siege drew worldwide media attention and led to widespread condemnation of terrorism.

On December 7, 2008, Mumbai bid farewell to Hemant Karkare, the Chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Mumbai Police, who was slain while fighting terrorists during the attacks. The funeral was attended by thousands, with people from all walks of life paying their respects. Karkare, along with other officers, was lauded for his bravery in confronting the attackers, which cost him his life.

On December 10, 2008, Pakistan officially confirmed that Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist captured during the Mumbai attacks, was indeed a Pakistani national. This acknowledgment came after intense diplomatic pressure from India and the international community to identify the perpetrators' origins and take action. Kasab's capture was crucial in establishing the link between the attackers and Pakistan-based militants.

The trial of Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, commenced on February 25, 2009. In a specially set-up high-security court, Kasab faced numerous charges, including murder, waging war against India, and acts of terrorism. The trial was closely monitored internationally and domestically as a key measure of justice and response to the terror attacks.

In response to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Indian government established the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 10, 2009. The NIA is a central agency mandated to combat terrorism and other national security threats. The creation of the NIA was part of broader reforms to improve India's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to internal and external security threats.

On May 3, 2010, the Indian court sentenced Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks, to death for his role in the assault. The verdict underscored the severity of the attacks and was intended to serve as a strong message against terrorism. Kasab's sentence included multiple charges, reflecting the brutality and premeditated nature of the attacks against civilians.

Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving attacker from the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was executed on November 21, 2012. The execution took place at Yerwada Jail in Pune and was carried out after the President of India rejected his mercy petition. His execution marked the final judicial act in the prosecution of those directly responsible for the attacks, concluding a significant chapter in India's fight against terrorism.