Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid homage to the victims of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai on its ninth anniversary. Tributes poured in from other leaders too, as well as police officials, Bollywood stars and ordinary Indians.

Asking people to unite against terror, the PM said it was one of the biggest challenges confronting governments now. “We salute all those brave women and men who were killed in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. For over four decades, India has been raising the issue of terror. Initially the world didn’t take us seriously but now they are realising the destruction caused by terrorism,” Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.

As many as 26 children shared their experience of dealing with the loss of loved ones, and survivors and rescue men spoke of the three-day siege, at a memorial service in Mumbai which was attended by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and defence personnel, among others.

“Mumbai is changing. Today we have installed CCTV cameras – the third eye – that provides intelligence. The Navy has helped us make the sea secure. But we want people to be the eyes and ears of police forces… if we stay united, we can prevent such a tragedy, another 26/11,” the CM said, according to a report in The Indian Express. He also remembered Tukaram Omble, the assistant sub-inspector who helped capture terrorist Ajmal Qasab and died in the process.

Actor Amitabh Bachchan said “more than 70 per cent of our nation is moderate. And as moderates, we must recognise that to vilify a foe is no victory at all, to understand a foe is the first act of strength in resistance. To understand a foe, one must first understand ourselves… To understand ourselves, we can only do so together”.