Mumbai

 

Nei viaggi a Mumbai molti stranieri si fermano all’hotel Oberoi. E’ capitato anche a me nel 2007. Forse perchè quei posti mi suonavano familiari ho sentito la necessità di contattare un amico che vive lì, Manav Kaushik, regista e attore di Bollywood. Nonostante in India fosse notte fonda, mi ha risposto raccontandomi quel poco che sono riusciti a sapere.

"Mumbai, the financial capital of India once again got shaken by the terrorist attacks and the targets, this time had been mainly elite hotels like Hotel Oberoi, Hotel Taj, Hotel Trident in the South of Mumbai.

 

There was also an attack on the Cafe Leopold, perhaps the most famous restaurant and hang-out for tourists in the city, and at hospitals and railway stations.

 

Attacks had been carried out by guns and grenades.

 

The police had sprung into action as mobile signals were frozen immediately. The police were deployed at all major crossings and traffic choked instantly.

 

At least 80 people have been reported dead and more than 200 wounded. The action has already cost lives of  seven cops including Hemant Karkare, the chief of the police anti-terrorist squad.The public witnessed an encounter which took place at Girgaum Chowpatty where 2 terrorists were shot dead as they were fleeing after having forcefully taken car of some couple outside the Hotel Oberoi. Nine suspected terrorists have been arrested so far.

 

According to one Indian TV channel which claims to have received an email, the organization calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen claimed it was behind attacks.

 

At 3.30 am (Indian Standard Time) the encounter was taking place inside Hotel Trident and Hotel Oberoi and one side of Hotel Taj was engulfed in fire".