Let's protect our city, say Sonakshi, Abhishek

Image: Bollywood actress Sonkashi Sinha
Photographs: Reuben V/Rediff.com

A Ganesh Nadar joins Mumbaikars as they resolve to stand up against terror.

On the eve of the second anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks, three city non-governmental organisations paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 26/11 carnage.

The NGOs -- I Love Mumbai, PRISM and Stand Up and Act -- paid tributes to the departed at the Gandhi garden near Mantralaya in south Mumbai.

Present at the event, themed One Step ahead, were Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Sonakshi Sinha. With Abhishek were members of the cast of his film Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Se.

Show that you remember: Light a candle for 26/11

Please ...

'When you light a candle, only the wax melts'

Image: Sonkashi with school children
Photographs: Reuben V/Rediff.com

"What happened on 26/11 was very unfortunate," Sonakshi, who co-starred with Salman Khan in the recent hit Dabbang, said.

"We were not prepared. When you light a candle, only the wax melts. We have to be prepared."

"When it happened I was watching it on television and felt helpless," the actress, whose father Shatrughan Sinha is the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Patna, added. "I did not know what to do."

"Please learn what the cops teach you here so that if there is a terrorist attack again you know what to do, and do it."

Mumbai police and fire brigade personnel then explained in detail to the assembled school and college students, curious onlookers and journalists how they should deal with such situations.

Show that you remember: Light a candle for 26/11

'Be a soldier of the city -- protect it'

Image: Abhishek Bachchan with Shaina NC and the cast of his upcoming movie Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Se
Photographs: Reuben V/Rediff.com

Nana Chudasama, the former Mumbai sheriff and founder of the I Love Mumbai NGO, told the gathering, "Be a soldier of the city -- protect it."

His daughter designer Shaina NC, a BJP activist, called for a minute's silence in memory of the 26/11 victims.

She later explained that the rationale behind holding such an event was to teach the city's youth on what to do when terrorists strike.

Show that you remember: Light a candle for 26/11

'We will not take terror lying down'

Image: Abhishek Bachchan, Shaina NC and others at the event
Photographs: Reuben V/Rediff.com

Abhishek Bachchan, though he arrived late, made a forceful appeal.

"We must not forget what happened in our city two years back. We must say: Enough of terror -- Let us get up and do something".

Clearly out to promote his upcoming film, which deals with the revolt of teachers and students against the British rule in Chittagong, Abhishek declared, "The youth are the strongest force in the nation today. We will not take terror lying down".

Show that you remember: Light a candle for the victims of 26/11

'Be alert and aware of your surroundings'

Image: Sonakshi Sinha speaks in memory of 26/11 martyrs
Photographs: Reuben V/Rediff.com

Mumbai police personnel then made a presentation titled 'Jagrut Mumbaikar'.

Their primary advice to the citizens -- Keep your eyes and ears open.

"Be alert and aware of your surroundings. In the last 15 years, this city has experienced 14 terror attacks. How many of you check the space below the seat when you sit in a bus?"

A lady constable explained that the word 'Mumbai' in her inimitable way.

"Mum means mother in English, the next two alphabets 'ba' means mother in Gujarati and the last two alphabets 'ai' meant mother in Marathi. We have to protect our mother," she said.

Show that you remember: Light a candle for the victims of 26/11

'The police need your help. Be our eyes and ears'

Image: Abhishek Bachchan remembers the 26/11 martyrs
Photographs: Reuben V/Rediff.com

"The police need your help. Be our eyes and ears. Any suspicious movements should be reported immediately. Let us be united against terror," the police officers said.

Their advice to citizens when they see an unclaimed packet was:

Do not touch the packet
Do not open with your hands
Do not submerge in water
Do not pull strings or wires if they are visible
Do not pass a metallic object over the packet
Do not use your mobile phone near the packet or any electronic device
Evacuate people and not the object
Do not direct a flashlight on the object, even a mobile phone light
Place sandbags around the object and not on it (this will save people from splinters)
Do not believe what is written on the packet
Always inform the police and bomb disposal squad
Call the fire brigade
Bomb squad personnel wear gear that cost Rs 16 lakh (Rs 1.6 million). Even so, the chances of survival in case the bomb explodes is 10%, so do not crowd them.
Once you call the police keep your mobile free so that they can call you back

The police ended their presentation with the advice:

Do not assist terrorists even by mistake
Do not let ideology make you take a stand against the nation
Do not let personal injustice be capitalised by terrorists

Show that you remember: Light a candle for the victims of 26/11

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