Mumbai: Operation Underway To Recover Hostages

This news updete by geo.tv



MUMBAI: The death toll in Mumbai bomb and fire attacks has mounted to 125 which includes 16 police officials while hundreds others were reported injured.

Dozens of people have been held hostage in Taj Hotel where Indian commandoes have launched action to secure their release. Gunshots are being heard repeatedly from the location of the hotel.

So far there have been 9 blasts inside Taj Hotel while flames are leaping through windows at its fourth floor.

Five alleged terrorists have been killed and 9 arrested as a result of a joint action of Indian police and troops. However, the overall situation still remains out of control.

Encounters between terrorists and law enforcement agencies continue at Oberoi Hotel and Taj Hotel.

A series of explosions had rocked the Taj Mahal just after midnight. Screams were heard and black smoke billowed from the century-old edifice on Mumbai's waterfront.

Early Thursday, state home secretary Bipin Shrimali said four suspects had been killed in two incidents in Mumbai when they tried to flee in cars, and Roy said four more gunmen were killed at the Taj Mahal. State Home Minister R.R. Patil said nine more were arrested. They declined to provide any further details.

``We're going to catch them dead or alive,'' Patil told reporters. ``An attack on Mumbai is an attack on the rest of the country.''

The state government ordered schools and colleges and the Bombay Stock Exchange closed Thursday.


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