ID :
32926
Sat, 11/29/2008 - 02:34
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/32926
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Security forces inching closer to ending siege of Mumbai
Mumbai, Nov 28 (PTI) Security forces inched closer to
ending the two-day old siege of India's financial capital
Mumbai gunning down two terrorists holed up in Oberoi hotel
and evacuating over 100 people trapped there even as they were
locked in a grim battle to secure Taj hotel and free hostages
from a Jewish residential complex.
"The Oberoi-Trident is totally clear of terrorists and
is now under our control. The two terrorists holed up there
have been killed," National Security Guard (NSG) Director
General J K Dutt told reporters outside the hotel in south
Mumbai after more than a day of fierce exchange of fire
between his commandos and terrorists.
"We are sanitising every room to make sure no
undesirable elements are there and relief can be provided
to guests there," Dutt said.
Twenty-four bodies were found in the search operations
in Oberoi hotel, Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor told
reporters adding six hostages were killed on Wednesday by the
terrorists under a staircase while taking them to the roof.
While the 34-floor Trident has 541 rooms, the adjacent
11-storeyed Oberoi has 327 rooms.
At the 565-room Taj, commandoes continued to be
engaged in fierce exchange of fire with a militant who is
believed to be moving between floors. "We are trying to corner
him," Dutt said.
The NSG has recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, one
9 mm pistol and some unexploded grenades.
In the other theatre of action, Nariman House, NSG
commandos were dramatically airdropped on the roof by an IAF
helicopter at dawn and ever since they have been engaged in
intermittent firing with the holed up terrorists in one of the
floors of the five-storeyed building.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said nine
terrorists have been killed and one arrested. In all, 15
policemen and an NSG commando have lost their lives.
The arrested terrorist is a Pakistani national and
the state police has acquired a lot of information about the
whole plan for the strikes.
M L Kumawat, Secretary (internal Security) in the
Union Home Ministry, told reproters in Delhi that Major
Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the NSG was killed during the
encounter with terrorists in Taj while another commando Omkar
Chander was killed in Nariman House.
He said a 60-member fresh contingent of NSG commandos
was dispatched from Delhi today in addition to two contingents
already there. 475 commandos are engaged in the operations.
"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 in Mumbai 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.
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".
Perched on rooftops, hundreds of curious onlookers saw
the dramatic commando action, reminiscent of scenes seen in
Bollywodd thrillers, at Nariman House ignoring repeated pleas
by the security agencies to stay indoors.
As gunshots reverberated, a commando with bandage on
his forehead was seen being rushed into a waiting ambulance.
Another was seen with a bleeding bullet wound.
At Oberoi, 35 hostages and several others trapped,
many of them foreigners with one holding a six-month-old
infant, came pulling their suitcases, relief writ large on
their faces.
"I am going home and to may wife," a relieved Mark
Abor, a British national, said.
The commandos found money, sunglasses, black scarves
and ammunition from the places occupied by the terrorists. PTI
ending the two-day old siege of India's financial capital
Mumbai gunning down two terrorists holed up in Oberoi hotel
and evacuating over 100 people trapped there even as they were
locked in a grim battle to secure Taj hotel and free hostages
from a Jewish residential complex.
"The Oberoi-Trident is totally clear of terrorists and
is now under our control. The two terrorists holed up there
have been killed," National Security Guard (NSG) Director
General J K Dutt told reporters outside the hotel in south
Mumbai after more than a day of fierce exchange of fire
between his commandos and terrorists.
"We are sanitising every room to make sure no
undesirable elements are there and relief can be provided
to guests there," Dutt said.
Twenty-four bodies were found in the search operations
in Oberoi hotel, Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor told
reporters adding six hostages were killed on Wednesday by the
terrorists under a staircase while taking them to the roof.
While the 34-floor Trident has 541 rooms, the adjacent
11-storeyed Oberoi has 327 rooms.
At the 565-room Taj, commandoes continued to be
engaged in fierce exchange of fire with a militant who is
believed to be moving between floors. "We are trying to corner
him," Dutt said.
The NSG has recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, one
9 mm pistol and some unexploded grenades.
In the other theatre of action, Nariman House, NSG
commandos were dramatically airdropped on the roof by an IAF
helicopter at dawn and ever since they have been engaged in
intermittent firing with the holed up terrorists in one of the
floors of the five-storeyed building.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said nine
terrorists have been killed and one arrested. In all, 15
policemen and an NSG commando have lost their lives.
The arrested terrorist is a Pakistani national and
the state police has acquired a lot of information about the
whole plan for the strikes.
M L Kumawat, Secretary (internal Security) in the
Union Home Ministry, told reproters in Delhi that Major
Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the NSG was killed during the
encounter with terrorists in Taj while another commando Omkar
Chander was killed in Nariman House.
He said a 60-member fresh contingent of NSG commandos
was dispatched from Delhi today in addition to two contingents
already there. 475 commandos are engaged in the operations.
"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 in Mumbai 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.
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".
Perched on rooftops, hundreds of curious onlookers saw
the dramatic commando action, reminiscent of scenes seen in
Bollywodd thrillers, at Nariman House ignoring repeated pleas
by the security agencies to stay indoors.
As gunshots reverberated, a commando with bandage on
his forehead was seen being rushed into a waiting ambulance.
Another was seen with a bleeding bullet wound.
At Oberoi, 35 hostages and several others trapped,
many of them foreigners with one holding a six-month-old
infant, came pulling their suitcases, relief writ large on
their faces.
"I am going home and to may wife," a relieved Mark
Abor, a British national, said.
The commandos found money, sunglasses, black scarves
and ammunition from the places occupied by the terrorists. PTI
