Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is yet again under attack. It was around 10 pm on Wednesday when the terror struck Mumbai. The terrorists struck at buzzling places, targetting the historic and renowned Taj Hotel and Oberoi hotel, among others. Indian security forces lost three of its most respectable and decorated officers. ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, Encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and ACP Ashok Kamte gave away their lives in the operation against the terrorists.

As the terrorists, who are hardly 19-21 years old, still hold several innocents, including foreigners, hostage, I wonder for how long such gruesome atrocities will continue, in which innocents will have to lay down their lives.

As 39 hours into the operation after the terrorists entered the hotels and the Nariman House, the security forces have suffered casualties and there is news regarding the killing of more hostages at Oberoi.

Isn't it unbelievable? How many more terrorists are moving freely in this city? It is dangerous...ominous signs for peace in the country.

Finally, the operation ended after 59 hours. Major Sandeep Unikrishnan ( Taj) sacrificed his life for the nation, along with Commander Gajender Singh (Nariman house).

India has been on the hitlist of terrorists for long. Due to our lax policies and attitude, we have been bearing the brunt of terror strikes on a regular basis. Be it Mumbai or Delhi or Bangalore or Hyderabad, no city is safe in India. The terror network is so strong that it needs stringent laws and always on the alert security to tackle it.

These days, in India, a debate is going on -- which is strong: Hindu extremism or Islamic fundamentalism? But while fighting over Hindu extremism and Islamic terrorism, we forget that terrorism is terrorism, be it by Hindus or Muslims. Both take innocent lives, both put security at stake, both are a dampener on society.

It is useless to fight over this issue. What is required is a strong support base comprising of the public as well as the government. People need to be ever-vigilant; government needs to be on its tenterhooks always, security agencies need to be equipped with modern artillery to face such gruesome attacks, and also to save innocent lives. Instead of concentrating  over vote bank politics, leaders will have to resolve that they will not raise issues that divide society. They should pledge to come together for an action against terrorism.

India should once again bring in acts like POTA, which really created dread in the terrorists.

Today it is in Mumbai, tomorrow it can be anywhere else. The recent attack is being dubbed as India's 9/11. The 9/11 terror strikes in the United States had changed the face of terror for the world. However, a terror attack, no matter how small or big, spreads terrorism only, along with hatred and fear. Have you ever thought: who are these terrorists fighting? Why are they unleashing terror? What is their goal? What are they achieving in this barbarism?Who is supporting them? Who is backing them? Who is funding them? Who is hiding them? Why do they become so cruel? Who is brainwashing them?

Several people keep asking these questions without getting any reliable answers.

The world needs to stand united against terrorism to wipe it out from the face of the earth, so that no Mumbai becomes a target again.