The 26/11 martyrs’ memorial in Kalyan is crumbling and filthy. The spot itself is overrun by vagrants who hang clothes, throw rubbish and even sleep there. The memorial had been built in honour of five bravehearts who were killed in the 2008 terrorist attacks — Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar, Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Tukaram Ombale — but their families said such shabby memorials are an insult, not an honour.

While it had been installed in 2009 by the then Kalyan corporator, Asmita More, it is her husband, Arvind who is the corporator now. He admitted that the rundown monument has become a haunt for drug addicts and vandals.