NEW DELHI, 28 Nov 2008: There is no sign of the hostage crisis at Mumbai’s landmark Taj Mahal Palace Hotel ending this morning despite continuous attempts by Indian security forces to flush out the remaining terrorists.
According to the Home Ministry, so far, at least 125 are dead and 327 wounded, including six foreigners, after unidentified terrorists launched well-coordinated attacks in various parts of India’s financial hub on Wednesday night.
Until the wee hours of Friday morning, at least three terrorists had been killed in the century-old hotel while another three guests stranded inside the hotel were rescued.
“There has been intermittent shooting between militants inside the hotel and soldiers on the ground since 4pm (local time). The whole city is saddened over these killings, it is a terrible tragedy for Mumbai,” Mohd Saiful, a middle-aged computer shop owner told Bernama.
Though an outfit calling itself Deccan Mujahideen has sent e-mails to media organisations claiming to have carried out one of the worst terror attacks in India since 1993, latest reports indicate involvement of a Pakistani national.
Home Ministry officials claimed that militants mounted their attack from the sea, where a mother ship was believed to be supplying the weapons, and the suspects arrived via the coastal sea route.
Authorities are now checking ships along the Mumbai coast.
In the Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House, a residential complex, commandos continue to neutralise terrorists holed up inside the buildings and more than 30 hostages were rescued, according to local television stations.
Security officials are expected to carry out a final assault in the three areas in the southern part of the city later today to end the hostage crisis which has crippled Mumbai.
So far, no Malaysians are caught in the incident. — Bernama
