New Delhi:
16 years ago, the extradition of 26/11 plotter Tavavur Rana has ripped the band-ed with the wounds of many people living in Mumbai through a three-day devastation. For others, it was an opportunity to recall the pressure on a large scale to save the lives of others – at great risk.
One such hero nurse is Anjali Kulthe, who managed to save 20 pregnant women admitted in CAMA Hospital in Mumbai and ensured safe distribution for one of them-a high-risk patient of high blood pressure.
It was around 9.30 pm on 26 November, when he came to know that the terrorists attacking the CST station were moving towards the CAMA Hospital, Ms. Kulle told NDTV in a special interview. After minutes, he heard the sound of bullets from a lane behind the hospital.
“Looking out of the window, we could see two terrorists running and the police opened fire. Then the terrorists climbed the gate and entered the hospital premises. I saw that they had shot two security guards, who were lying in a pile. When they fired us on the window, they injured us all.
On his return, the nurse closed the main doors of the ward and took 20 patients to 10×10 pantry. The cellphones and lights were closed and they sat in the dark.
Soon after, the patient started having labor pain. The doctor refused to come to the ward, so far, the gunbatal was fierce inside the hospital.
Ms. Kulthe said that she took the patient from the ladder to the labor room, going up one step at once, remained close to the wall. By morning, she had given birth to a baby girl, who was named ‘Goli’ in memory of that night, said Ms. Kulthe.
The hospital was attacking for five hours that night. Apart from two security guards, another hospital worker died.
Asked if she had overtaken the fear and trauma of that night, Ms. Kulthe said, “Not one of us who worked in the hospital – doctors, nurses or other employees – will ever forget that night”.
He said, “The way he threw grenades, set fire, killed people, none of us can forget it. For the whole country, it was sorrow and scary night,” he said.
Tahavur Rana, who was extradited, is accused of playing an important role in the 2008 attacks, killing 166. Pakistani-American terrorist and prominent accused in the case, David Coleman Headley said Rana had increased logistic and financial assistance to operate terror. He has been accused of waging war under the Criminal conspiracy, Government of India, murder and forgery and illegal activities (prevention) Act.
In 2008, a three -day attack that destroyed the financial capital of India was seen targeted by hotels, a train station, a Jewish center and other places.
Of the 10 terrorists participating in the attack, only one, Ajmal Kasab was caught alive and hanged on 21 November 2012. India has said that Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba had orchestrated the attacks.
