ID :
33073
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 06:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/33073
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Mumbai anti-terror operation wrapped up after 60 hours
Mumbai, Nov 29 (PTI) The war on terror in India's
financial capital Mumbai was Saturday wrapped up by the
security forces who eliminated three terrorists in Taj hotel
after 60 hours of intense battle with the band of ultras who
struck the coastal city killing 183 people.
"All operations are over. The NSG has formally
reported that the operations are complete and now Taj, Oberoi
and Nariman House are being sanitised. There are no more
terrorists now in Mumbai. All have been liquidated or captured
alive," M L Kumawat, Special Secretary in the Union Home
Ministry told reporters in Delhi.
The magnitude of the attack by suspected Lashkar-e-
Taiba elements, who are believed to have come by the sea route
from Karachi in Pakistan, could be gauged from the statement
of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra R R Patil who said
with the ammunition the terrorists had, they could have killed
5,000 people.
The elimination of the three terrorists in Taj came
Saturday morning after intense battle between the commandos,
who believed there was a lone gunman holding out, and the
terrorists who kept exploding grenades at periodic intervals.
Of the 183 killed, civilians alone accounted for 141
including 22 foreigners, two NSG commandos, 15 Maharashtra
police personnel, one RPF constable and two Home Guards. Six
NSG personnel were injured.
In all, nine terrorists were killed while one was
captured alive in "Operation Tornado" executed by the NSG
alongwith the army and naval commandos and Maharashtra police.
The security forces rescued 250 people in Oberoi, 300
in Taj and 12 families of 60 people in Nariman House.
Security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, nine
magazines, two pistols and mobile phones from Nariman House, a
Jewish residential complex, while in Trident-Oberoi two more
AK-47 rifles, eight magazines and two pistols were seized.
Recoveries from Taj hotel were yet to be disclosed.
Patil said the state government had "enough proof" that
the terrorists were in constant touch with their masters in
Pakistan giving updates on every move of theirs and taking
orders.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the
ten terrorists had split themselves into five teams of two
each for executing their mission.
In his press conference, Kumawat said the arrested
terrorist was being interrogated about his associates and
their plans to strike Mumbai.
The security forces Friday had regained control of the
Oberoi-Trident hotel and the Nariman House where five Israeli
hostages were killed.
The terrorists held out through the night in Taj and
battle escalated in the wee hours Saturday. The final assault
began at the crack of dawn and the drama came to an end
shortly after 0800 hours IST.
As journalists got closer for the first look at the
devastated landmark hotel, an NSG commando showed thumbs-up
signal from the second floor indicating the horror saga was
over.
Smashed glass panes, damaged furniture, overturned
chairs, burnt curtains and blood-spattered rooms with black
scars of the raging fire bore mute testiomony to the three-day
terror rampage.
Two staffers of Taj, who were in the thick of
unprecedented gun battles, heaved a sigh of relief as they
were ushered out by the security personnel.
Shortly after the operations, Tata group chief Ratan
Tata alongwith top management of the hotel took stock of the
situation.
Patil identified the arrested terrorist as Mohammad
Aslam Kasam who carried heavy ammunition.
Police found a large quantity of hand grenades,
bombs and hundreds of rounds with the terrorists, he said.
Two boxes containing eight kg RDX each were found near the
Taj hotel which was cleared of terrorists today, he said. "It
has been sent to forensic labs for confirmation," he said.
Terrorists had access to modern communication like
GPS, satellite phone and mobile phones, Patil said.
Asked about the reports that terrorists were working
in the city from the past few months, Patil said "they were
not staying here. They came in the city on the day of
attack".
"They were having maps of the hotels but got
directions over phone from another country," Patil said,
refusing to disclose the name of the country.
Patil also denied any local involvement in the
attacks or locals helping terrorists. PTI TEAM
PMR
NNNN
financial capital Mumbai was Saturday wrapped up by the
security forces who eliminated three terrorists in Taj hotel
after 60 hours of intense battle with the band of ultras who
struck the coastal city killing 183 people.
"All operations are over. The NSG has formally
reported that the operations are complete and now Taj, Oberoi
and Nariman House are being sanitised. There are no more
terrorists now in Mumbai. All have been liquidated or captured
alive," M L Kumawat, Special Secretary in the Union Home
Ministry told reporters in Delhi.
The magnitude of the attack by suspected Lashkar-e-
Taiba elements, who are believed to have come by the sea route
from Karachi in Pakistan, could be gauged from the statement
of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra R R Patil who said
with the ammunition the terrorists had, they could have killed
5,000 people.
The elimination of the three terrorists in Taj came
Saturday morning after intense battle between the commandos,
who believed there was a lone gunman holding out, and the
terrorists who kept exploding grenades at periodic intervals.
Of the 183 killed, civilians alone accounted for 141
including 22 foreigners, two NSG commandos, 15 Maharashtra
police personnel, one RPF constable and two Home Guards. Six
NSG personnel were injured.
In all, nine terrorists were killed while one was
captured alive in "Operation Tornado" executed by the NSG
alongwith the army and naval commandos and Maharashtra police.
The security forces rescued 250 people in Oberoi, 300
in Taj and 12 families of 60 people in Nariman House.
Security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, nine
magazines, two pistols and mobile phones from Nariman House, a
Jewish residential complex, while in Trident-Oberoi two more
AK-47 rifles, eight magazines and two pistols were seized.
Recoveries from Taj hotel were yet to be disclosed.
Patil said the state government had "enough proof" that
the terrorists were in constant touch with their masters in
Pakistan giving updates on every move of theirs and taking
orders.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the
ten terrorists had split themselves into five teams of two
each for executing their mission.
In his press conference, Kumawat said the arrested
terrorist was being interrogated about his associates and
their plans to strike Mumbai.
The security forces Friday had regained control of the
Oberoi-Trident hotel and the Nariman House where five Israeli
hostages were killed.
The terrorists held out through the night in Taj and
battle escalated in the wee hours Saturday. The final assault
began at the crack of dawn and the drama came to an end
shortly after 0800 hours IST.
As journalists got closer for the first look at the
devastated landmark hotel, an NSG commando showed thumbs-up
signal from the second floor indicating the horror saga was
over.
Smashed glass panes, damaged furniture, overturned
chairs, burnt curtains and blood-spattered rooms with black
scars of the raging fire bore mute testiomony to the three-day
terror rampage.
Two staffers of Taj, who were in the thick of
unprecedented gun battles, heaved a sigh of relief as they
were ushered out by the security personnel.
Shortly after the operations, Tata group chief Ratan
Tata alongwith top management of the hotel took stock of the
situation.
Patil identified the arrested terrorist as Mohammad
Aslam Kasam who carried heavy ammunition.
Police found a large quantity of hand grenades,
bombs and hundreds of rounds with the terrorists, he said.
Two boxes containing eight kg RDX each were found near the
Taj hotel which was cleared of terrorists today, he said. "It
has been sent to forensic labs for confirmation," he said.
Terrorists had access to modern communication like
GPS, satellite phone and mobile phones, Patil said.
Asked about the reports that terrorists were working
in the city from the past few months, Patil said "they were
not staying here. They came in the city on the day of
attack".
"They were having maps of the hotels but got
directions over phone from another country," Patil said,
refusing to disclose the name of the country.
Patil also denied any local involvement in the
attacks or locals helping terrorists. PTI TEAM
PMR
NNNN
