Mumbai under attack! A night of terror, ATS CHIEF KILLED!

As the year 2008 almost draws to a close, we see the ugly hand of terror work in India again. And this time its my city Mumbai. What was earlier started off just as indiscriminate firing to be a terrorist attack is now to be thought to be escalated to an international hostage situation at Oberoi and Taj. The army and National Security Commandos ( India’s SWAT team) are invovled in operations. Six Army columns are deployed in South Mumbai.

Earlier on Nov 26th,

(pic courtesy: AP)

The first incident started at the Taj Hotel(5 STAR), where unidentified persons started to fire at police forces. Subsequently shots were heard at CST and the terrorists/gunmen are supposed to be inside the premises. The hotel has asked all their guests not to come back to the hotel. The police have cordoned off the area and roads seem to be empty. Congress MP, Milind Deora and the CM spoke to a news channel pleading the people of Mumbai to remain calm, composed and not to indulge nor believe any rumors and to wait upon the Govt to issue official news. Later on we see they have taken lives of 60 civilians with different strategies. They hijacked a Police Van , stole cars and used them to fire randomly at crowds and unsuspecting people with grenades and automatic weapons.

As of now. There have been attacks of gunfire at

• Taj Hotel , near gateway of India.
• Oberoi Hotel.
• CST Station ( earlier and still popularly known as VT)
• Cafe Leopold at Colaba causeway.
• Metro . A van came up and started fire. People injured.
• Cama Hospital.
• Ramada Hotel.

There have been gunfire and blasts at.

• Trident Hotel (earlier known as Hilton)
• Oberoi. Now under seige.
• Petrol Pump at Colaba blown up by grenade/ low intensity.

 Be it today, tomorrow or later on. I urge you to do this with all you heart. Pray. Pray for this city.

• ATS Chief injured.
• Police suffering casualties.
• American national and western citizens were rounded up together at the Taj and Oberoi after enquiring of nationals at the reception.

Updates: Nov 27th. 9.35 a.m onwards.

• Terrorists were holed up in Cama hospital, Churchgate have been flushed out by the police but are absconding. Cama hospital is a womens and childrens hospital. No casualties reported.
• Terroists have fled with 2 Govt cars. Some mumbaikars have recieved sms informing them of the vehicles and their registeration numbers with a call to keep their eyes open and co-operate with the Police.
• Situation at TAJ/Oberoi: We see NSG commandos strategically entering the Hotel and sound of gunshots follow in response. A lot of Tourists have been evacuated from the Hotels. The command of operations have been smart and quick to provide FireEngines, Buses and Hospital Vans as cover to fleeing tourists and as these vehicles provide cover against bullets we also see Army/National Security Commandos rushing into the Hotel.
• Terroists are still in the building called Nariman House. Locals say that, they have been living right next to terroists. people who were lying low, keeping minimal contact with the public. However, what seems to be of chief concern is the people they are targetting in the building. The housing is full of Jewish homes and families. They already have shot dead a couple in the building. No confirmations of further casualties from the housing society.Police and armymen have been patrolling at a safe distance awaiting orders.
• The Prime Minister has called for an emergency cabinet session with National Secrity Advisors and the State Govt is already behind closed doors discussing strategy and further action as there have been no attempts to contact any Govt/police officials by the Terrorists.
• Schools,Colleges,The Stock market are shut. Trains and Buses are running but reportedly empty.Office goers have not ventured outside. The police are not ruling out the possibility of another attack in the city during the day.So far, we have seen Mumbaikars co-operating with the Cops and staying indoors.Lets pray that this doesnt escalate any further.
• The National Security Guards have stormed TAJ and are still in the process of following their plans to go room to room and secure the premises. However currently the hostage situation in the Taj has ended. They have evacuated over 400 people fromt he Taj. Amidst this victory we hear another devastating news. The Taj GM and his wife along with 3 children have been killed.
• 7 Foreign Nationals have been killed.
• Operations are underway in Oberoi and Nariman House. It is 7.37p.m and as darkness falls, the situation has improved. But there is no surety on bringing life back to normal in the City.
• Photojournalists have been at the sites of destruction and firings at the cost of their own lives for one whole day now. ( I wonder if my family will understand when I am doing the same)

Updates for 28th of Nov.

 

• One terrorist caught. LeT link established.
• Seige on the Taj was called off saying that the situation is under control. However as of today morning confirmed news state that there are still 10-15 hostages with 2-3 Militants in the TAJ bldng.
• TAJ GM is alive. However his wife and 2 children were burnt to death in the suite that was allotted to them. The room that is under fire(see pic below).
• CST: Killed – 47. Rescued -56
• Cama hospital . Killed -4.
• Oberoi operation is still on.
• Right now all focus and force is on Nariman House where Jewish RabbiGavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivika have been held hostage . The terrorists have released their 2 year old son. The Rabbi belongs to the ultra orthodox ChapadLubavithc movement of the Hasidic Jews. Obvoisly this is another prized bonus for the ultras.
• Gujurat CM said in a speech that this attack violates a treaty between Pakistan and India, wherein the former stated that no sea attacks would be undertaken. The PMO has not responded to this comment and if it does, I in all ingnorance am forced to think of the dire consequences. We dont need any more lives taken than the current count.

 

Pictures by CNN IBN.

Click here for Nov 27th Updates!