Battle for Mumbai ends, death toll rises to 195

MUMBAI, Nov 29, 2008 (AFP) - Commandos Saturday killed the last remaining gunmen in Mumbai’s Taj hotel to end a devastating attack by Islamic militants on India’s financial capital that left 195 dead, including 26 foreigners.

Shortly after dawn on the third day of the siege, heavy gunfire and loud explosions signalled the final commando offensive against the militants, who had held hundreds of security personnel at bay for 60 hours.

“All operations are over. All the terrorists have been killed,” Mumbai police chief Hassan Gafoor said, as the special forces units emerged from the smoke-filled hotel and firemen moved in to douse a fierce blaze.

On Friday, elite troops had stormed a Mumbai Jewish centre and killed two gunmen — but also found eight dead Israeli hostages, including a US-based rabbi and his wife, who were murdered as the commandos closed in.

Another luxury hotel that was attacked, the Oberoi/Trident, was declared clear of militants late Friday, with scores of trapped guests rescued and 24 bodies found.

“They were the kind of people with no remorse — anybody and whomsoever came in front of them they fired at,” an Indian commando said of the young gunmen.

The head of the commando forces, J.K. Dutt, said his men were conducting a final sweep of the battle-scarred Taj.

“We are now going through each and every room to make sure it is safe,” Dutt said, appealing to any guests still hidden in the hotel to make themselves known.

Mumbai disaster official R. Jadhav told AFP that 195 people had been killed and nearly 300 injured in the battle, which began when the dozen or so militants split into groups to attack multiple targets across the city, including the main railway station and a hospital.

TV channels described the attacks as “India’s 9/11.”

There were concerns that the death toll could rise as emergency services combed the warren of rooms at the main siege sites for more bodies.