Operations in final stages, 35 hostages rescued: Officer

Mumbai, Nov 28 (PTI) The operations against the siege
of Mumbai appeared to be nearing last stages with the
evacuation of 35 hostages from Oberoi hotel but fierce battle
was on to eliminate a small band ultras holed up in a Jewish
building complex.

"It is just a matter of a few hours before we will be
able to wrap up things," Southern Command Chief Lt Gen Noble
Thamburaj told reporters a little before noon outside Taj
hotel as 35 hostages, including foreigners and a six-month old
infant, were successfully rescued from Oberoi-Trident.

The new building of Taj hotel has been totally flushed
out and cleared and handed over to police, he said adding that
one terrrorist, possibly two, had moved into the adjacent old
heritage building.

"We have heard the sound of a woman and a man, giving
indications that they are being held hostage," Thamburaj said
but added that almost all guests and staff in the hotel have
been evacuated.

He conceded that the there were some casualties among
the NSG commandos but would not disclose their numbers and
whether they were fatal or otherwise saying that operational
details would affect the "mental makeup" of terrorists.

Thamburaj said that operations had to be "deliberate
and slow" to ensure the safety of the hostages, guests and
hotel staff. The commandos had been told not to rush things
under the "pressure of media or citizens".

He said some rooms in Taj are still bolted from inside
and people inside are not responding, probably they are
scared. "As soon as communication and room services are
restored, we will inform them about the situation and ask them
to come out". MORE PTI MSA
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