Two injured in fresh firing at Hotel Taj

Mumbai, Nov 28 (UNI) Two persons were wounded when terrorists holed up inside the century-old Taj Mahal Hotel engineered three huge grenade blasts, besides opening fire in a fresh wave of violence, even as the combined security forces retaliated by hurling their own hand grenades in a combing operation today.

The security agencies have asked for additional reinforcements, paticularly another company of 'Black Cat' commandos at Nariman House, where the terrorists are still holding few hostages.

At the Taj hotel, the security forces have moved back the media enclosure by 10 meters after a civilian, who was standing with the media, was injured in the firing by the terrorists.

The terrorists have intensified their firing at Nariman House and also lobbed a few hand gerenades as a pitched battle with the security forces continued.

The city police chief Hassan Gafoor said ''The Army had completed its operation at the Hotel Trident and National Security Guard (NSG) commandos are undertaking the search operation. All the hostages have been rescued and two terrorists were killed in exchange of fire.'' He said total 30 bodies were recovered from the hotel, while the security forces have also seized two AK-47 rifles, a pistol and some hand grenades.

Mr Gafoor said the commandos had so far gunned down nine terrorists, while they were able to apprehend one of them. The crime branch is investigating the case and they are getting good leads from the arrested terrorists, he added.

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