http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=0a03c477-e0ab-4fcd-a41a-e923459ff25dMumbaiunderattack_Special&&Headline=Gunbattle+on+22+hours+after+terror+struck+Mumbai
Taj cleared of terror threat , death toll rises to 127
FULL COVERAGE
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Imran Ahmed Shah , Press Trust Of India
Mumbai, November 27, 2008
First Published: 20:59 IST(27/11/2008)
Last Updated: 00:24 IST(28/11/2008)
The luxury Taj Mahal hotel was cleared of terror threat late on Thursday night
after an unspecified number of them holed up in the iconic landmark were killed
in a commando raid while a final assault on the besieged Trident Oberoi was
underway, a day after the audacious terror strike in Mumbai in which the death
toll rose to 127.
All but one of the terrorists holed up in Taj hotel were killed in encounter
with National Security Guards (NSG) and Army, Military sources said. One
terrorist was neutralised by crack commandos and is in an injured condition,
according to NSG Director General JK Dutt said.
Late in the night, there was a major fire in the Trident (Oberoi) hotel where
about 200 people have been trapped and terrorists exploded grenades that set
the roof ablaze amid exchange of gunfire. Two terrorists are holed up in the
8th floor of the Oberoi hotel while in the Trident section the combing
operation has been completed. There were reports that about 30 to 35 hotel
guests were safely evacuated.
Dutt said it is a matter of time before the combing operation is over in hotel.
The other scene of action was at Nariman House, a Jewish residential complex,
where some Israelis have been held hostage by some three-four terrorists.
Combing operation in the building is in progress, Dutta said.
The hand of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba is suspected in the worst terror
attacks in the country but the outfit denied any involvement.
Among the dead were six foreigners,14 police personnel, a home guard jawan and
104 members of the public including several staff of the two hotels. Of the 327
injured, police personnel accounted for 26 and foreigners seven.
Scores of hostages in Taj were evacuated to safety through the day. Seven
hostages were rescued from Nariman House shortly before midnight, 24 hours
after the prestigious complex was targeted by terrorists.
There were heavy casualties among the staff in both the hotels with Taj alone
accounting for 17 of them. G-o-C Maharashtra RH Hooda said they had done a
detailed search of the 395-room hotel but declined to give numbers of
terrorists holed up or those trapped.
Intelligence sources said 12 terrorists in two batches had been frequenting the
two hotels for the last one month and were well aware of the topography.
Among the dead were nine foreigners and 14 police personnel including ATS chief
Hemant Karkare and four other senior officers.
Security agencies have sought to blame LeT, one of whose activists was captured
alive in Trident. He is said to be Abu Ismail hailing from Faridkot in
Pakistan. The terrorists numbering about 20-25 are believed to have landed on
Mumbai shores after a mother vessel dropped them in three inflatable boats.
Seven of them have been gunned down.
The Indian navy claimed that they have spotted the mother vessel and giving it
a hot chase.
Podcasts: On terror attacks | Soumitra Ghosh | Spokesperson of Taj Hotel
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