Houston: Hundreds Houstonians with Indian roots have held Candle light vigils and prayers to express their solidarity with the innocent victims of the barbaric terror attacks in Mumbai.

The incident has stirred up anger, grief, pain and helplessness among the Indian-origin Houstonians as they remained glued to their television sets and Internet to get all the information regarding the attack.

Last Sunday, more than 300 Houstonians with Indian roots gathered to pray for peace and to console one another after the Indian Security forces flushed out all the terrorists from the hotels and the Jewish Centre.

Present at the occasion were Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge, Sanjiv Arora, Consul General of India, Congress Woman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman-elect Pete Olson and many other state and local elected officials.

They pledged cooperation to combat the forces of terrorism.

"This attack wasn't only on India or Westerners. It was an attack on humanity," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.

Condemning the violence, Congressman-elect Pete Olson, said the coordinated attacks by terrorists, who reportedly were targeting Americans and other Westerners, show why the nation should continue to work with allies worldwide to neutralize terrorist strongholds.

"We must stay on offense against these criminals; we must hunt them down and put them in prison or a grave. It is the only way to end their attacks and atrocities," Olson said.

He added the attacks should also serve as a reminder for Americans to remain on guard against similar terrorists in this country.
Source : PTI