New Delhi - Prayer meetings and memorials were held across India Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Mumbai which led to the collapse of the India-Pakistan peace talks and forced a nationwide security revamp. Prayer meetings, a police parade and the re-opening of the Jewish Chabad House, one of the targets of the attacks, were among the events in India's financial capital.
Mumbai on Thursday did not slow down from its usual busy pace, sending a signal that it would not be deterred by terrorism.
The three-day long attacks which began on November 26, 2008 targeted 10 key locations across Mumbai including the main railway station and sites popular with tourists and business people, including two luxury hotels.
At least 175 people, including 26 foreign nationals and nine attackers from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, were killed by the time Indian forces ended the terrorist siege.
In the national capital New Delhi, India's Parliament observed two minutes' silence to remember the victims.
Indian cricketers playing a test-match against Sri Lanka in the northern city of Kanpur also stood in silence to pay tribute.
In Mumbai, the anniversary began with memorial services at the Taj and Trident hotels and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway station.
The station was worst hit with over 50 reported casualties. People from all walks of life paid homage to the victims at the railway terminus.
The Chabad House, the Mumbai headquarters of the Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch movement, reopened with a multi-faith prayer. A small memorial comprising a wall pock-marked by bullets has been set up by residents.
"We shall never forget what happened on 26/11. We have established the memorial to make Mumbaikers more aware and alert to the dangers of terrorism," Koresh Zorawar, a local, said.
Earlier Thursday, the Mumbai police held a parade, showcasing its new equipment including automatic weapons and patrol boats.
Commandos from the city's newly created anti-terrorism force also participated.
India embarked on a multi-million dollar security upgrade for its forces after the attack.
Locals lighted candles in front of the Leopold cafe and other targets of the attack.
Prayer services are planned at the Gateway of India monument, near the Taj hotel later, on Thursday.
The devastating attacks led New Delhi to halt five-year-old peace talks with Pakistan.
India has reiterated that it would not restart talks until Mumbai attack suspects were brought to justice.
On the eve of the attacks, Indian Premier Manmohan Singh, currently on a US visit, said India "will not rest" until the perpetrators of the attack were punished.
"We have taken up the matter with all the force at our command with the government of Pakistan," Singh was quoted by the PTI news agency as saying.
"We expect the masterminds of the attack and their supporters to be tried and punished. The infrastructure of terrorism and all safe havens have to be dismantled," he said.
