Mumbai: Terrorists who have caused mayhem in the metropolis are not run-of-the-mill militants as believed earlier, but are "highly-trained and highly-motivated professionals".
This was the observation of the elite Marcos Naval Commandos which had the first confrontation with the terrorists at the city's landmark Taj Hotel.
"The terrorists are highly trained, motivated with where with all to mount a prolonged campaign," Vice-Admiral J S Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command said, adding that these observations were conveyed to him by his Marcos commandos.
In the operations, Marcos seized stun grenades, hand grenades and other sophisticated ammunitions and ATM cards, plus US dollars from the terrorists.
The terrorists were also found to be carrying huge loads of almonds, which can be used as food in a long siege.
The Vice Admiral also told CNN-IBN that the situation is being brought under control.
"There are 40 to 45 hostages and four to five terrorists. Two Navy personnel have been shot at, one of them is in a critical condition. The operation of the terrorists is extremely well-planned," he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army said it had put its best men on the job to flush out the militants but refused to give a timeframe on when the operation would be over.
“Do not ask for a timeframe for the operation. But rest assured that the best people are here for the job,” Major General R.K. Hooda, the Indian Army's general-officer-commanding (Maharashtra), told reporters here.
He was referring to the gunbattle at the Oberoi Trident, one of the two five-star hotels where the terrorists barged in Wednesday night, soon after landing on the city's coast near the Gateway of India monument with arms and ammunition.
The terrorists are believed to be holding about 30-40 people - Indians as well as Westerners - hostage at the Oberoi Trident.
“There are nearly 800 rooms in the hotel and we have to search each and every room. There can be militants there or innocent occupants. We will look out for explosives and dispose them,” he added.
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