“Two years ago this day, Mumbai was subjected to a brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people. The nation joins the bereaved families in remembering and mourning those who perished in this barbaric attack,” Manmohan Singh said.

“We salute the courage, unity and resolve of ordinary Mumbaikars and the brave and selfless actions of our men in uniform during the attack. It is this spirit and strength of character of the Indian people that will defeat such forces that seek to threaten our social fabric and way of life,” he added.

Stating that India would never succumb to the designs of its enemies, he said: “We pledge to redouble our efforts to bring the perpetrators of this crime against humanity to justice.”

Mumbai paused in its busy tracks Friday to remember the carnage of two years ago and paid homage to the martyrs and victims of the terror attack that left 166 people dead. From signature campaigns demanding the immediate hanging of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist caught alive during the mayhem, to laying wreaths at memorials and holding prayer services, the city solemnly recalled the events that shook the world.

Tributes to the martyrs of the 26/11 attacks were also paid at the newly-erected martyr's memorial at the Police Gymkhana. Federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister R.R. Patil, federal Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Maharashtra Director General of police D. Shivanandan and Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal also laid wreath at the memorial and paid homage to the martyrs. A large number of family members of the martyrs too joined in paying homage at the Police Gymkhana.

Unlike the daily boisterousness and camaraderie witnessed in the morning peak hour travel, the mood was solemn and quite subdued as millions of commuters took local trains and buses to go to south Mumbai.

A regular office-goer, Avanti Rahate said commuters silently remembered the victims of the carnage and commented how soon the time had passed.

Brief prayer services were held at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Hotel Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Hotel Trident-Oberoi - three of the main places attacked by the 10 terrorists who laid siege to the metropolis for three days, killing 166 people and injuring over 300.

A social organization, Nijaat, carried out a signature campaign for four hours at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus demanding immediate hanging of Kasab for killing innocents and wreaking huge destruction on the city.

Hundreds of citizens and celebrities took part in “Ek Kadam” - march for solidarity between Hotel Trident-Oberoi to Hotel Taj Mahal in the afternoon which Mumbai Congress leader Charan Singh Sapra organised to remember the terror victims.

Commoners and celebrities, including actors Ajay Devgan, Raveena Tandon and Mahima Chaudhary, and office-goers joined the nearly two-km-long march from Nariman Point and Colaba areas, Sapra said.

Later in the day, Chidambaram allotted a CNG station to the family of Tukaram Ombale, one of the 17 martyrs of the terror attacks who sacrificed his life to catch Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab alive.

In another development, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray lashed out at film star Shah Rukh Khan, Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil and leader of opposition Eknath Khadse.

In an editorial in Sena mouthpiece "Saamna" on Friday, Thackeray lashed out at Khan again stating that the actor lived, earned his bread and hospitality of Mumbai and Maharashtra and yet as an ungrateful and unpatriotic Indian he is participating in a show in London in aid of the Pakistan flood affected people.

“Khan has again exhibited his love for Pakistan. While it is two years now that Pakistani terrorists had attacked Mumbai and slaughtered hundreds of innocent people and policemen, and at a time when the country is paying homage to the martyrs of the Mumbai terror attacks, Khan is in the United Kingdom to participate in dinner and dance party organized by a Pakistani TV channel “Prime TV.”

Thackeray did not spare Patil and Khadse, the BJP leader and leader of opposition for going recently to the Arthur Road prison and meeting Qasab and inquiring how he was feeling. “These people are shameless characters, have no integrity and no concern for the country or the state.”

— Input from agencies