Taj operation finally over, casualty figure very highMore than two days later, the Taj operation has finally reached its end as the NSG commandos take control of the hotel. According to sources, casualty figures at the Taj are very high.
The sixth floor of the hotel is completely gutted in fire and can't be reached. So, the commandos are finding it pretty hard to sanitise the floor.
According to latest reports, at least 195 people have died and 300 are injured during the 60-hour mission carried out by the security forces against the terrorists.
Describing the mission as successful, the NSG sources said that 11 terrorists have been killed in the mission and one has been caught alive.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called an all-party meeting on Sunday. The US Ambassador has also voiced his concerns to help India by saying that America is duty-bound to cooperate with India.
All the victims of Mumbai terror attacks were taken to various hospital across the city and out of those, 26 bodies lie unclaimed in the state run JJ hospital.
Two of the hotel staffers have also been rescued and the security forces are now destroying ammunition in the hotel.
Meanwhile, Karmabir, the general manager of Taj who lost his wife and children, is still at work.
The sources also said that the internal structure around the fourth and the sixth floor of the Taj may be in danger, sources added.
Earlier, describing Saturday's operation, NSG chief J K Dutt said that a fire had been started in the hotel by NSG commandos to smoke out terrorists. However, the mopping up operation still on.
The NSG chief briefed the press about the ongoing operation today. He said, "The Taj encounter is over and three terrorists had been gunned down on Saturday morning. Two terrorists were gunned down on Friday."
Dutt did not officially confirmed if the operation is over. He said the operation will be over only when all rooms are sanitised. He, however, said the Taj hotel is under their control.
The NSG chief also said that one commando has been killed in the Taj operation, and some hand grenades and AK-47s have been recovered from him.
Earlier, in the wee hours of Saturday, fresh explosions were heard at the heritage hotel. There was heavy firing and explosions in Wasabi restaurant in the Taj late on Friday night. Two to three terrorists are left and are intermittently firing at NSG.
The level of battle now seems to indicate a last assault at the Taj. There is still confusion over the total number of militants inside the hotel, but there seem to be no hostages or guests inside with them.
The Army said that the NSG was in contact with one terrorist in the old wing of Taj and that the operation in Taj was also in final stages.
There was also report of one injured militant inside the Taj hotel.
According to NSG Director General: "One injured terrorist is still inside Taj hotel. The stage seems to be set for a final operation there and the media has been asked to refrain from doing any live broadcasts from outside the hotel."
NDTV is giving away fewer details to ensure that positions of the forces are not revealed.
Nariman House encounter ends
The commando operation against the terrorists at Nariman House ended on Friday.
NSG set off huge explosions to ensure no terrorist escaped and combed the building to ensure no more terrorists were left inside.
However, five hostages and two terrorists were found dead inside the building. A Jewish rabbi and his wife were among the dead at Nariman House.
NSG commandos came out of the Nariman House amid cheering crowds. Thousands of people had gathered outside the building. The Rapid Action Force even used lathis to control the crowd.
Earlier, seven hostages were taken out from the building.
Oberoi cleared
After a 39-hour ordeal, the NSG finally got success in flushing out the terrorists from the Oberoi Trident Hotel on Friday.
Describing the mission, NSG chief J K Dutt said, "Both Trident, Oberoi are under our control and both the terrorists present in these hotels have been killed."
Two AK-47 rifles, one pistol and few unexploded grenades have been seized, the NSG chief added.
According to the police, nine terrorists were killed and one was caught alive. The police said 24 dead bodies were found at Oberoi hotel on Friday, taking the total toll to 30.
At Trident, NSG commandos evacuated the people and they surrounded the Oberoi wing for the final push.
On early Friday morning, three explosions in three hours happened inside the Nariman House in Colaba, breaking the eerie silence.
The building was still in darkness when the Army closed in. Snipers took position at Nariman House. About 100 commandos went inside and helicopters circled above the building to monitor the situation.
At least 154 have been killed in the Mumbai encounter, including 14 policemen and 13 foreigners and 327 people have been injured.
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