18 foreign nationals killed in terror attacks: Deshmukh

Mumbai, Nov 29 (PTI) Eighteen foreigners were killed
in the terror attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai,
Chief Minister of the western state of Maharashtra Vilasrao
Deshmukh said Saturday.

"Altogether 18 foreigners were killed in the terror
attacks and nationality of 15 has been confirmed," Deshmukh
said in a press conference Saturday.

The foreigners include three Germans, three Israelis,
two Canadians, and one each from USA, Britain, Japan,
Australia, Italy, China and Thailand, he said.

Asked if the terrorists belonged to Pakistan, Deshmukh
said "no such information is available from initial
investigation," he said.

Deshmukh also denied terrorists had created any
hostage-like situation. "If people would have been taken as
hostages, then terrorists would have put some demands. But
there were no demands," he said.

Deshmukh denied reports that information on the
attacks was given to the state earlier. "The government always
gets general information as the city is the financial capital
of the country. But there was no specific information given,"
he said.

Altogether 162 people died in the attacks and 239 were
injured, Deshmukh said, adding that 14 police officers and two
NSG commandos also lost their lives while fighting with
terrorists, Deshmukh said.

The government also announced Rs 25 lakh for the
family members of the policemen who were killed in the terror
attacks. The family members would also get salary of remaining
service tenure of the killed policemen.

The state government sanctioned a total Rs 6.5 crore
to help these families, he added.

Deshmukh said the government would also provide
housing facility to the family members. A person from each
family would be given government job based on the
qualification, he added. PTI SSG
PMR
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