Terror Attacks in Mumbai

milindc · Post by **milindc** » 27 Nov 2008 16:15

amit wrote:it seems one of the terrorist earlier checked in Taj with all the equipment/explosives.

Explains the credit-card possessions.

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 27 Nov 2008 16:16

arI think the blasts are the doors being blasted open, or stun grenades being thrown into rooms giving no answer. A single explosion with no accompanying gunshot indicates that only. According to that Deepak guy on phone, someone was heard running in the corridor. That means the vermin are moving around.

The commandos are going room to room. It is a tough call. You have to keep guards at every point that is secured as well.

p_saggu · Post by **p_saggu** » 27 Nov 2008 16:16

Crossposted.

From today's Times Of India

bart · Post by **bart** » 27 Nov 2008 16:17

Terrorist Imran on India TV has the exact same accent of Musharador. Clearly a Pakjabi or Mujahir.

I have travelled the length and breadth of India and never encountered that accent or style of speaking of Hindi/Urdu.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2008 16:18

Terrorists moving to the top floor of Taj. After this floor, there is nowhere else to go.

Fresh firing at Oberoi reported.

amit · Post by **amit** » 27 Nov 2008 16:18

IBN Live makes a good point.

This is the most audacious terror attack since 9/11

Congress can't push things under the carpet anymore. That will be kaput for them in May.

Shivani · Post by **Shivani** » 27 Nov 2008 16:19

Stan_Savljevic wrote:MMS (My paraphrasing): Set up a federal investigative agency to handle such scenarios.

It's called CBI.

Unless of course the plan is to have so many terrorists attacks in India that an all new agency is needed to 'investigate' them.

What you really need, 'sir', is less post event investigation and more preemptive action.

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 27 Nov 2008 16:19

amit wrote:Boss just why does the police need to come clean? Any authentic information given to the media also goes to the terrorists and their handlers. Please get real.

What do you mean? Its a risk letting the terrorists know through the media that they are still inside. As if they don't know it!

Never mind.

bart · Post by **bart** » 27 Nov 2008 16:20

arunabh wrote:barkha still showing emotional interviews by relatives of hostages. i dont see why that should be done now.

It seems also the Paki foreign minster called HER, personally, on her mobile to offer that the ISI head should have a hot line to the IB.

What he said was farcical enough but it needs to be investigated why the turd feels so comfortable about calling Barkha to make such announcements.

Mathew G · Post by **Mathew G** » 27 Nov 2008 16:20

what?! They still haven't found the hijacked police vehicles??!

Surely police vehicles should have some sort of tracking device to it?

amol.p · Post by **amol.p** » 27 Nov 2008 16:21

dudes helicopters hovering over TAJ...shown on IBN 7

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 27 Nov 2008 16:22

Mathew G wrote:what?! They still haven't found the hijacked police vehicles??!

Surely police vehicles should have some sort of tracking device to it?

This is india a third world country not australia or US

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 16:22

Gun battle between NSG commandos and terrorists underway at Trident. Three floors of the hotel have been cleared.

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 16:23

amol.p wrote:dudes helicopters hovering over TAJ...shown on IBN 7

CNN IBN saying these are Navy helos.

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 27 Nov 2008 16:24

Perhaps, folks have paraphrased the PM's speech while I am already half asleep (3:15 AM here).

He said "there is a need" for a Federal Anti-Terrorist Agency. Not that it "will be done".

(1) There is Fresh Firing from Terrorists in the Oberoi Hotel
(2) Loud Explosions from the Taj, which is still on fire. Only 3 floors are cleared as of now.

Operations are far from over.

"Final Assault in Mumbai Siege?" is the flashing headline on IBN.
It just appears that the Media (who have nothing fresh or new to report are getting impatient and started celebrating prematurely that ops. in the Taj are over). Just tukkabaazi.

Also, the accents of the Terrorists on the phone are pure Punjabi and Pathan, respectively.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2008 16:24

Increased gun-battle reported at Oberoi. Firing has increased in the last 15 mins or so. NSG has cleared three floors and hostages safe in these floors.

At Taj, multiple gun-shots heard. One room is possibly witnessing close combat.

amit · Post by **amit** » 27 Nov 2008 16:25

Dmurphy wrote:
amit wrote:Boss just why does the police need to come clean? Any authentic information given to the media also goes to the terrorists and their handlers. Please get real.
What do you mean? Its a risk letting the terrorists know through the media that they are still inside. As if they don't know it!

Never mind.

You don't seem to get it. Assuming the terrorist are still in contact with their handlers then a fudging on what is actually happening on the ground is a good way to confuse them.

Let's understand one thing. Given the various handicaps under which our security agencies operate under, they have been doing a wonderful job, taking shots and dying yet not over reacting with overwhelming force.

Remember what happened in Russia when Chechnian terrorists took a full house at an opera? The Russian went in with all guns blazing and remember how many people died?

The security folks could have just blasted their way in and the result would have been 10 times the casualty.

The Indian security forces are probably the most restrained in the world. Yet they have to deal with the greatest terrorist menace in the world.

JMT

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 16:25

CNN IBN reporting NSG commandos near the Taj firing in the air at random. Not allowing any pattern to build up.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2008 16:26

vishal wrote:CNN IBN reporting NSG commandos near the Taj firing in the air at random. Not allowing any pattern to build up.

Apparently, thats a sign for some room has been cleared to follow-up commandos.

amit · Post by **amit** » 27 Nov 2008 16:27

IBM Live saying govt official said there's no negotiations with terrorists as every attempt to contact them have failed.

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 27 Nov 2008 16:27

vishal wrote:Gun battle between NSG commandos and terrorists underway at Trident. Three floors of the hotel have been cleared.

I heard the army strafed and cleared everything till the 18th floor twice and the terrrosists were holed up only on the 19th floor and above. There are reports of a tranqulising gas being used.

amit · Post by **amit** » 27 Nov 2008 16:29

Trident seems to the only flash point now. 100s still inside.

parshuram · Post by **parshuram** » 27 Nov 2008 16:31

bart wrote:http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/27m ... o-home.htm
Veronica Murphy, a British citizen, said, "I was lucky as I was only 100 metres away from the firing incident at Leopold Cafe [Images] in Colaba last night. I was on the periphery and I must tell you that Indians were very protective towards me and they ensured that we don't get hurt in any way."

Asked will she leave India, Murphy said, "No way. I am taking a train to south India tomorrow and I am not scared. Terrorism [Images] is everywhere in the world and even England [Images] was affected by that. You cannot allow these terrorists to rule and ruin your life. I will not allow that to happen."

Bravo Maam, you have an order of magnitude more humanity and courage that most of your leaders and media.

Sadly her nation's cricket team is shitting in there pants when they are to play in Guhwati and Delhi ..Nice way to avoid 7-0 drubbing

IBN Flash : Maha CM -> "V" - DeshMukh : 7 terrorists killed

Mathew G · Post by **Mathew G** » 27 Nov 2008 16:31

amit wrote:
Dmurphy wrote: What do you mean? Its a risk letting the terrorists know through the media that they are still inside. As if they don't know it!

Never mind.
You don't seem to get it. Assuming the terrorist are still in contact with their handlers then a fudging on what is actually happening on the ground is a good way to confuse them.

Let's understand one thing. Given the various handicaps under which our security agencies operate under, they have been doing a wonderful job, taking shots and dying yet not over reacting with overwhelming force.

Remember what happened in Russia when Chechnian terrorists took a full house at an opera? The Russian went in with all guns blazing and remember how many people died?

The security folks could have just blasted their way in and the result would have been 10 times the casualty.

The Indian security forces are probably the most restrained in the world. Yet they have to deal with the greatest terrorist menace in the world.

JMT

My sentiments exactly. But it can be soo frustrating with the restraints. Enough with the ahmisa restraints already. IMHO India needs to flatten TSP into non existence. Like right now. Doesn't matter what the POTUS or other goras have to say.

Just finish it. No more TSP/ISI/LeT. More over it would be an example for wanna be jihadi attackers.

MohanG · Post by **MohanG** » 27 Nov 2008 16:36

Agencies responding include MARCOS, NSG, Regular Army, Mumbai Police, CRPF, RAF.

True, there should be some coordinating mechanism. I think there does exist an informal one as far as the actual operations go. However, I have a suspicion that each agency involved is impatient to let the country know how good a job it is doing. Some publicity doesn't harm.

However, as ASPuar would perhaps agree, a single-person official spokesperson is needed to interact with the media at this time (when operations are still going on). This person need not be a senior person - a middle rank media savvy officer will do. All that is needed is to give appropriate information and to squelch rumors. A not-too-senior spokesperson can always feign ignorance if an inconvenient question is raised. Or, the representatives of the various agencies can brief the media together in a press conference. Appearing solo on different channels may be good for the TRPs of the channels, but is harmful for sending a coherent and consistent message.

Later, when the operations are finished and normalcy is restored, then different agencies will anyway blow their own trumpets - if not formally, then informally.

However, there cannot be any rules for the political leadership (including the opposition) to force them to speak less except for their own good sense and the public opinion. And I think the political leadership - right from the MLA/MP to PM - have not spoken out of turn.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2008 16:37

Apparently it took till 2PM to clear just one floor and cordon it off. So we may be in for a long wait till this ordeal is over.

Fire blazing out suddenly at Taj...

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 16:38

New fire in a room at Taj and spreading fast. Looks like the terrorists are going for scorched earth even as the NSG sanitises the hotel.

Times Now playing CCTV footage of terrorists as they leave CST for Cama Hospital.

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 27 Nov 2008 16:39

OT: VP Singh is dead

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 27 Nov 2008 16:39

amit wrote:Remember what happened in Russia when Chechnian terrorists took a full house at an opera? The Russian went in with all guns blazing and remember how many people died?

The Russians never went in with guns blazing. AFAIk, they tried to put everybody to sleep using some under developed gas which didn't have a proper anti-dote...which ended up killing hundreds of hostages.

BTW, I never questioned our security forces' ability here.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2008 16:41

Shit, its de javu all over again. Fire spreading quick and fast at Taj. No firemen around. None shown on IBN at least.

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 16:42

5 rounds fired at Trident. Terrorists lodged between 17th & 19th floors there. Reports of flashes and loud bangs.

More gunfire even as I type.

Mathew G · Post by **Mathew G** » 27 Nov 2008 16:43

Israelis taken hostage at Oberoi: IBN Live

derkonig · Post by **derkonig** » 27 Nov 2008 16:44

Suppiah wrote:OT: VP Singh is dead

This was the same man who released 5 muslim terrorists in exchange for Rubaiya Sayeed. Also the same man who removed Jagmohan when Jagmohan took on the muslim terrorists in Kashmir. A champion of sekoolarism & ofcourse 'social justice'.

Vipin_Upadhyay · Post by **Vipin_Upadhyay** » 27 Nov 2008 16:44

Colaba fire station is at spitting distance from the site, perhaps that's the reason they are not keeping fire vehicles there so that place is less crowded with big vehicles.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2008 16:44

The room is completely engulfed in fire. In another 5 mins, it will become hardly manageable. Fire tenders, wer art thou?

Raj Malhotra · Post by **Raj Malhotra** » 27 Nov 2008 16:45

I think helos flying and random firing is to put pressure on terrorists and disorient them.

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 16:45

Lights come on in some rooms at the Trident.
Breaking news on Times Now: 1 more terrorist arrested at Trident.

ASPuar · Post by **ASPuar** » 27 Nov 2008 16:46

amit wrote:
Dmurphy wrote: What do you mean? Its a risk letting the terrorists know through the media that they are still inside. As if they don't know it!

Never mind.
You don't seem to get it. Assuming the terrorist are still in contact with their handlers then a fudging on what is actually happening on the ground is a good way to confuse them.

Let's understand one thing. Given the various handicaps under which our security agencies operate under, they have been doing a wonderful job, taking shots and dying yet not over reacting with overwhelming force.

Remember what happened in Russia when Chechnian terrorists took a full house at an opera? The Russian went in with all guns blazing and remember how many people died?

The security folks could have just blasted their way in and the result would have been 10 times the casualty.

The Indian security forces are probably the most restrained in the world. Yet they have to deal with the greatest terrorist menace in the world.

JMT

In fact, I think they knocked everyone out with Fentayl compound, and that very compound killed a bunch of people inside because they refused to reveal its composition to doctors.

Scorched earth. Indian security forces have done a splendid job.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2008 16:47

If all this live feed does nt awaken the country and the politicos, nothing else will. I am sure most of the country is hooked on to the telly and watching in sheer anger. There is shit to be paid for this. Hum badlaa lehnge...

Vipin_Upadhyay · Post by **Vipin_Upadhyay** » 27 Nov 2008 16:48

Could be possible that piglets might be attracting commandos to come close in numbers and then they detonate their suicidal ammunition.

very tough and nervous times. salute to brave jawans!