Mumbai mourns terror attack victims

Mumbai, Nov 30 : Residents of Mumbai paid a solemn homage to the 200 victims of deadly terror attack in the city.

People gathered at the historic landmark the Gateway of India opposite the Taj Mahal hotel and Trident Oberoi hotel, site of the attacks on Sunday and lighted candles in memory of those who lost their lives in what is being termed as India's "9/11".

Police personnel were seen cordoning off the wreckage of the three-day rampage as many curious Mumbaikars stood looking at the damaged landmarks.

India has blamed the strikes on "elements" from nuclear rival Pakistan and said that evidence is mounting that the terrorists may have hatched their plan there.

The public anger began to rise over the attacks after elite Black Cat commandos killed four militants in a running gun battle through a maze of corridors, rooms and halls in Mumbai's best-known hotel.

They were the last of 10 gunmen who attacked Mumbai's top two luxury hotels, its biggest railway station and several other landmarks with grenades and assault rifles in a rampage that began on night.

The residents said that the government should use money judiciously for strengthening the country's security instead of wasting it on useless things like erecting statues of leaders.

Anger and helplessness was evident as people reacted to the incident when militants laid siege to the city.

Expressing the need for stringent anti-militancy laws, D. Mitra, an elderly citizen of Mumbai, said, "In USA after 9/11, I don't think any terrorism act has taken place. It is such a big and vulnerable country. In India it is happening everyday. Our Parliament was attacked, then there were attacks in different states, 93 blasts occurred and now this. So that means somewhere we are lacking that zeal to fight. We should keep in mind that these things should not happen. Just like Israelis, how they are fighting. It affects the country's economy as well as day-to-day life. It creates unnecessary fear psychosis. I sincerely pray that this kind of thing doesn't happen and we should make very stringent laws."

Mumbai disaster authorities said at least 195 people had been killed and 295 wounded.

The death toll has been rising even as bodies were collected from the Trident-Oberoi hotel and the Taj Mahal Hotel -- scene of another siege that ended on Friday.

ANI