Mumbai Mayhem: More than just Terrorists

The Mumbai Attackers were Commandos Skilled in Urban and Marine Warfare

Despite being badly bruised and battered in the NWFP and FATA, the Pakistan army and its dirty tricks department the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate are continuing to pursue their ruthless agenda to sponsor brutal terrorist operations against soft targets in India.

The modus operandi of the terrorists who were responsible for the dastardly attacks at the Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace hotels, Nariman House and Leopold Café in Colaba, as well as attacks launched against innocent civilians at the CST terminus and two Mumbai hospitals, clearly reveals that they had been trained in army and navy establishments by the Special Services Group (SSG), Pakistan's Special Forces.

The terrorist operation had the hallmark of a skilfully planned and methodically executed commando strike. All the targets had been carefully reconnoitred and dry runs and rehearsals had been carried out. The terrorists had acquired advanced map reading and sophisticated navigation skills including the use of GPS receivers. They had made and committed to memory detailed sketches of floor plans and entry and exit routes. They had been taught to communicate with each other through hand signs and to make only very short, coded transmissions on their phones or walky-talkies.

Their approach from Karachi to Mumbai by the sea route involved superior maritime skills and had an element of surprise built into it. On reaching closer to Mumbai, they discarded their mother boat so as to avoid accusations of Pakistani culpability and commandeered two fishing trawlers after killing the crew. For the final landing they switched to rubber dinghies so that they could close in with their intended "beach heads" with stealth.

The terrorists chose to land at relatively less frequented sites to remain undetected for as long as possible. They had made elaborate arrangements to acquire new identities and alibis that would not arouse suspicion. They handled adversity with a cool and calm demeanour. When questioned by a staff member of the Taj hotel, they casually replied that they were students. After landing and changing into battle gear, they dispersed to attack different targets and while a few were killed, others managed to re-group and converge on the main targets.

All the terrorists had been given rigorous physical training as they were in excellent physical shape. Mental conditioning ensured that they could withstand the rigours and pressures of being surrounded and being under withering fire for almost three nights rather well. They were resolute in action and aggressive in their orientation. Throughout the operation they exhibited remarkable clarity of thought and action. They showed no remorse or human feelings and ruthlessly executed men and women, the old and the infirm to achieve their nefarious designs.

Above all else, the training imparted to the terrorists by SSG personnel was reflected in the standard of "fire discipline" that they exhibited. Though they had strapped on large quantities of ammunition to their bodies, it would have been utterly inadequate to last three nights of firing had they not been trained to fire extremely selectively and in short bursts of three to four rounds as an AK-47 assault rifle can empty a 30-round magazine in under a minute when fired in the automatic mode. Each short burst was fired for effect, as was every single hand grenade. Considering the number of persons killed by them and those wounded, the terrorist commandos were quite obviously skilled marksmen who could fire from the hip with accuracy.

The minor tactics adopted by the terrorists were measured and succeeded for quite some time in creating the false impression that they were present in each location in large numbers. They went up and down the hotel buildings and fired and threw grenades from different floors, making the NSG and MARCOS commandos cautious and slowing down their operations. They never exposed themselves to Indian snipers who had been deployed all around the buildings under siege.

Finally, the Pakistani commandos put up stiff resistance against well-trained NSG and MARCOS personnel who were fresh and had the advantage of time on their side. The terrorists killed a gallant Major and one NCO of the Indian army and injured others. With the limited weaponry at their disposal, they caused massive collateral damage and left behind scenes of ghastly death and destruction – unbelievable carnage indeed.

The Indian army has faced well-trained Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir for almost two decades now but these men were much different. There can be no doubt whatsoever that these LeT or perhaps al Qaeda backed terrorists had been trained to the level of Special Forces commandos by the Pakistan military establishment and the ISI for this spectacular high risk mission. Whether or not the Pakistan government was also involved in planning and executing this gruesome tragedy in Mumbai, only time will tell.

Brig Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd)
Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi.
Additional Reading
Stop terrorism for better ties: PM tells Pak
No stealth hazards
Tackling Pakistan
Reflections on 26/11 in the Chinese and Pakistani media

Tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan- A Hero

DG, NSG, Jyothi Krishnan Dutt, alongwith colleagues pay their respects to NSG men Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Gajendra Singh who laid their lives fighting terrorists in Mumbai.(PTI Photo)WE WILL NOT REMEMBER HIM TOMORROW FOR SURE, AT LEAST LET US PRAY FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY TODAY.
We salute you and your parents Dear Major Sandeep. These last few days I have learnt that India needs more people like you. There are no hopes from any political party as everybody is greedy, busy canvassing for votes. Their tears are also crocodile tears. It's We common Indian who have to save our lives. I have a son of two years old. I was thinking that I will not send my child to any army forces. But now I have changed. If we all think like this then who will protect the Nation. I thank you and many other brave soldiers for that. Now if my son wants to join the Military I will proudly say YES to him. Jai Hind, Vande Matram.

M Babu (Civilian)
Echoing Veterans' Voice

Operation Black Tornado
On the night of 26 Nov 2008, several iconic buildings in South Mumbai were attacked by terrorists. One of the buildings where the terrorists held people hostage was the 100 year old Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Major Unnikrishnan was the commander of 51 SAG deployed in the operation at the Taj Mahal Hotel. He led his team from the front and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight. When one of the NSG commandos was injured in the exchange of fire, he arranged for his evacuation and regardless of personal safety chased the terrorists who, meanwhile, escaped to another floor of the hotel, and while doing so Major Sandeep continuously engaged them. In the encounter that followed, he was shot from the back, seriously injured and succumbed to injuries.

Heroes At The Taj: A chilling account

Michael Pollack 12.01.08, 7:40 PM ET

My story begins innocuously, with a dinner reservation in a world-class hotel. It ends 12 hours later after the Indian army freed us. My point is not to sensationalize events. It is to express my gratitude and pay tribute to the staff of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, who sacrificed their lives so that we could survive. They, along with the Indian army, are the true heroes that emerged from this tragedy.

My wife, Anjali, and I were married in the Taj's Crystal Ballroom. Her parents were married there, too, and so were Shiv and Reshma, the couple with whom we had dinner plans. In fact, my wife and Reshma, both Bombay girls, grew up hanging out and partying the night away there and at the Oberoi Hotel, another terrorist target.

The four of us arrived at the Taj around 9:30 p.m. for dinner at the Golden Dragon, one of the better Chinese restaurants in Mumbai. We were a little early, and our table wasn't ready. So we walked next door to the Harbor Bar and had barely begun to enjoy our beers when the host told us our table was ready. We decided to stay and finish our drinks.

Thirty seconds later, we heard what sounded like a heavy tray smashing to the ground. This was followed by 20 or 30 similar sounds and then absolute silence. We crouched behind a table just feet away from what we now knew were gunmen. Terrorists had stormed the lobby and were firing indiscriminately.

We tried to break the glass window in front of us with a chair, but it wouldn't budge. The Harbour Bar's hostess, who had remained at her post, motioned to us that it was safe to make a run for the stairwell. She mentioned, in passing, that there was a dead body right outside in the corridor. We believe this courageous woman was murdered after we ran away.
(We later learned that minutes after we climbed the stairs, terrorists came into the Harbour Bar, shot everyone who was there and executed those next door at the Golden Dragon. The staff there was equally brave, locking their patrons into a basement wine cellar to protect them. But the terrorists managed to break through and lob in grenades that killed everyone in the basement.)

We took refuge in the small office of the kitchen of another restaurant, Wasabi, on the second floor. Its chef and staff served the four of us food and drink and even apologized for the inconvenience we were suffering.

Through text messaging, e-mail on BlackBerrys and a small TV in the office, we realized the full extent of the terrorist attack on Mumbai. We figured we were in a secure place for the moment. There was also no way out.

At around 11:30 p.m., the kitchen went silent. We took a massive wooden table and pushed it up against the door, turned off all the lights and hid. All of the kitchen workers remained outside; not one staff member had run.

The terrorists repeatedly slammed against our door. We heard them ask the chef in Hindi if anyone was inside the office. He responded calmly: "No one is in there. It's empty." That is the second time the Taj staff saved our lives.

After about 20 minutes, other staff members escorted us down a corridor to an area called The Chambers, a members-only area of the hotel. There were about 250 people in six rooms. Inside, the staff was serving sandwiches and alcohol. People were nervous, but cautiously optimistic. We were told The Chambers was the safest place we could be because the army was now guarding its two entrances and the streets were still dangerous.. There had been attacks at a major railway station and a hospital.

But then, a member of parliament phoned into a live newscast and let the world know that hundreds of people--including CEOs, foreigners and members of parliament--were "secure and safe in The Chambers together." Adding to the escalating tension and chaos was the fact that, via text and cellphone, we knew that the dome of the Taj was on fire and that it could move downward.

At around 2 a.m., the staff attempted an evacuation. We all lined up to head down a dark fire escape exit. But after five minutes, grenade blasts and automatic weapon fire pierced the air. A mad stampede ensued to get out of the stairwell and take cover back inside The Chambers.

After that near-miss, my wife and I decided we should hide in different rooms. While we hoped to be together at the end, our primary obligation was to our children. We wanted to keep one parent alive. Because I am American and my wife is Indian, and news reports said the terrorists were targeting U.S. and U.K. nationals, I believed I would further endanger her life if we were together in a hostage situation.
So when we ran back to The Chambers I hid in a toilet stall with a floor-to-ceiling door and my wife stayed with our friends, who fled to a large room across the hall.

For the next seven hours, I lay in the fetal position, keeping in touch with Anjali via BlackBerry. I was joined in the stall by Joe, a Nigerian national with a U.S. green card. I managed to get in touch with the FBI, and several agents gave me status updates throughout the night.

I cannot even begin to explain the level of adrenaline running through my system at this point. It was this hyper-aware state where every sound, every smell, every piece of information was ultra-acute, analyzed and processed so that we could make the best decisions and maximize the odds of survival.

Was the fire above us life-threatening? What floor was it on? Were the commandos near us, or were they terrorists? Why is it so quiet? Did the commandos survive? If the terrorists come into the bathroom and to the door, when they fire in, how can I make my body as small as possible? If Joe gets killed before me in this situation, how can I throw his body on mine to barricade the door? If the Indian commandos liberate the rest in the other room, how will they know where I am? Do the terrorists have suicide vests? Will the roof stand? How can I make sure the FBI knows where Anjali and I are? When is it safe to stand up and attempt to urinate?

Meanwhile, Anjali and the others were across the corridor in a mass of people lying on the floor and clinging to each other. People barely moved for seven hours, and for the last three hours they felt it was too unsafe to even text. While I was tucked behind a couple walls of marble and granite in my toilet stall, she was feet from bullets flying back and forth. After our failed evacuation, most of the people in the fire escape stairwell and many staff members who attempted to protect the guests were shot and killed.

The 10 minutes around 2:30 a.m. were the most frightening. Rather than the back-and-forth of gunfire, we just heard single, punctuated shots. We later learned that the terrorists went along a different corridor of The Chambers, room by room, and systematically executed everyone: women, elderly, Muslims, Hindus, foreigners. A group huddled next to Anjali was devout Bori Muslims who would have been slaughtered just like everyone else, had the terrorists gone into their room. Everyone was in deep prayer and most, Anjali included, had accepted that their lives were likely over.. It was terrorism in its purest form. No one was spared.

The next five hours were filled with the sounds of an intense grenade/gun battle between the Indian commandos and the terrorists. It was fought in darkness; each side was trying to outflank the other. By the time dawn broke, the commandos had successfully secured our corridor. A young commando led out the people packed into Anjali's room. When one woman asked whether it was safe to leave, the commando replied: "Don't worry, you have nothing to fear. The first bullets have to go through me."

The corridor was laced with broken glass and bullet casings. Every table was turned over or destroyed. The ceilings and walls were littered with hundreds of bullet holes. Blood stains were everywhere, though, fortunately, there were no dead bodies to be seen.

A few minutes after Anjali had vacated, Joe and I peeked out of our stall. We saw multiple commandos and smiled widely. I had lost my right shoe while sprinting to the toilet so I grabbed a sheet from the floor, wrapped it around my foot and proceeded to walk over the debris to the hotel lobby.

Anjali and I embraced for the first time in seven hours in the Taj's ground floor entrance. I didn't know whether she was dead or injured because we hadn't been able to text for the past three hours. I wanted to take a picture of us on my BlackBerry, but Anjali wanted us to get out of there before doing anything. She was right--our ordeal wasn't completely over. A large bus pulled up in front of the Taj to collect us and, just about as it was fully loaded, gunfire erupted again.

The terrorists were still alive and firing automatic weapons at the bus. Anjali was the last to get on the bus, and she eventually escaped in our friend's car. I ducked under some concrete barriers for cover and wound up the subject of photos that were later splashed across the media. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance came and drove a few of us to safety. An hour later, Anjali and I were again reunited at her parents' home. Our Thanksgiving had just gained a lot more meaning.

Some may say our survival was due to random luck, others might credit divine intervention. But 72 hours removed from these events, I can assure you only one thing: Far fewer people would have survived if it weren't for the extreme selflessness shown by the Taj staff, who organized us, catered to us and then, in the end, literally died for us. They complemented the extreme bravery and courage of the Indian commandos, who, in a pitch-black setting and unfamiliar, tightly packed terrain, valiantly held the terrorists at bay.

It is also amazing that, out of our entire group, not one person screamed or panicked. There was an eerie but quiet calm that pervaded--one more thing that got us all out alive. Even people in adjacent rooms, who were being executed, kept silent.

It is much easier to destroy than to build, yet somehow humanity has managed to build far more than it has ever destroyed. Likewise, in a period of crisis, it is much easier to find faults and failings rather than to celebrate the good deeds. It is now time to commemorate our heroes.

Michael Pollack is a general partner of Glenhill Capital, a firm he co-founded in 2001.
Heroes At The Taj

Pall of gloom at dead NSG commando's home

STORMING OPERATION: Commandos of the National Security Guards rappel down on to the roof of Nariman House in Mumbai on Friday.
Endgame in Mumbai, death toll could be 200

Saturday, November 29, 2008
Pall of gloom at dead NSG commando's home
Mumbai: It was black Friday for the Unnikrishnan family as news of their 31-year-old son, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, on deputation with the National Security Guards, being killed in anti-terror operation in Mumbai filtered in on Friday.

Sandeep, who passed out from Frank Anthony School in Bengaluru and was later commissioned in the Bihar Regiment in 1999, was among the brave armed forced personnel who laid down their lives in the strike against terrorists in Mumbai.

"The family has been inconsolable. Both his mother and sister continue to be shell-shocked", said S K Krishnan, a close family friend and a former colleague of Sandeep's father at ISRO. Sandeep's father Unnikrishnan had retired from the department of space at ISRO.

"The family had no idea that Sandeep was part of the operation in Mumbai. He had not informed his family about the operation owing to security reasons," he said.

"However, we did feel he could have been part of the operation as a large number of NSG contingent had been called in to flush out the terrorists and free the hostages," he said.

"The news was received when a personnel contacted us and television news confirmed our worst fears," he said.

Paying glowing tributes to Sandeep, he said Sandeep had always been brave right from his early days.

He always dreamt of being part of the armed forces. His patriotism was one that breathed inspiration. His entire philosophy in life revolved around service to the nation first and foremost.

"And he has just done just that," said an emotional Krishnan. "He was a son that any parent would love to have," he said, before breaking down into tears.

Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved.
Pall of gloom at dead NSG commando's home

Mumbai, Nov 28 (PTI) Two NSG personnel, including an officer, were today killed and six other commandos injured during operations against terrorists in Mumbai, the first casualties suffered by the elite force during the siege.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, 31, was killed while engaging terrorists this morning at the Taj hotel, an NSG spokesperson told PTI.

Commando Chander received fatal bullet injuries during gunbattle at Nariman House, the official said.

Six other commandos were also injured during the encounters with terrorists at Taj hotel, Oberoi-Trident and Nariman House.

Major Unnikrishnan was with the 51 Special Action Group of the force and was with the NSG on deputation.

He has been with the Black Cat commando force for the last two years.

An officer of the Bihar Regiment, he was commissioned in the Indian Army in June 1999.

The officer had joined the NSG on deputation in January 2007 after having served two tenures with his battalion in counter insurgency and counter terrorism roles.

The officer hails from Bangalore where his father works for the Indian Space Research Organisation.PTI
2 NSG men killed, six others injured in Mumbai gunbattles

Tribute: Our hearts go out to the families of Commando Chander and Maj Sandeep who laid down their lives for our today. Truly the bravest of the brave and their spirit will live in our midst forever. The nation is indebted to their sacrifice.
Veterans' Voice

Army storms Mumbai's besieged five-star hotels

Indian army arrives outside the trident hotel for rescue operations , in Mumbai , India, early 27 November 2008. At least 80 people were feared killed in a series of shootings and explosions by suspected terrorists late Wednesday in Mumbai, India's financial hub, police and news reports said. Police confirmed there had been several attacks by heavily armed gunmen. The Oberoi Trident and Taj hotels were among areas affected, as were cinema halls, a hospital, and Mumbai's main railway terminus. EPA/STR
More Photos: "Attacks in India"

The site of an explosion near the airport in Mumbai. By SOMINI SENGUPTA
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Mumbai: Indian Army personnel early Thursday stormed the two besieged five-star hotels in Mumbai to nab terrorists who had left at least 78 dead hours earlier and to free a number of people including foreign tourists held captive there, officials said.

Mumbai's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team was already at the Hotel Taj Intercontinental where the holed-up terrorists hurled a grenade towards advancing army troopers, the police officials said. They said nine suspected terrorists were caught and two killed in shootouts following the yet another series of planned and synchronised attacks in the heart of India's financial capital around midnight Wednesday.

Exchange of fire “is on between police and terrorists at Taj and Trident. Our people have surrounded them and the ATS team has arrived at the Taj hotel," said A.N. Roy, Maharashtra director general of police.
Source: Indo-Asian News Service
Army storms Mumbai's besieged five-star hotels
At least 82 dead in India Terror Attacks

AT least 101 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen in Mumbai, police said.
"At least six foreigners have been killed and the death figure has gone up to 101 now," Ramesh Tayde, a senior police officer told Reuters from Mumbai's control room.
"We have a figure of 287 people injured."

Scores of tourists remained trapped in the Taj Mahal hotel, a 105-year-old city landmark, and the five-star Trident Oberoi in Mumbai's downtown peninsula, its financial and tourist heart.

Small groups of militants armed with automatic weapons and grenades burst into luxury hotels, a hospital and a railway station late yesterday, as well as an iconic cafe popular with foreign tourists, firing indiscriminately and tossing grenades. They appeared to target British and Americans as they sought hostages before settling in for a prolonged siege.
Six foreigners among 101 dead in Mumbai- police

Four top officers among 10 policemen killed in Mumbai
Mumbai Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare was among the dead. Two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, additional police commissioners Ashok Kamte and Sadanand Date, were killed in separate gun battles with terrorists, the authorities said.

Mumbai Police "encounter specialist" Vijay Salaskar were also shot dead in another gun battle.Karkare was heading investigations into several recent cases of terrorist attacks here. There were six other police officials among the at least 80 killed in the coordinated terror attacks late Wednesday night
Four top officers among 10 policemen killed in Mumbai- Xinhua

Thursday, November 27, 2008
Mumbai under siege: Complete Sequence

13.26: Militants holed up in top three floors of Trident
13.10: Trident under siege: Loud explosion heard now
12.50: Trident under siege, over 30 trapped inside
12.40 pm: One terrorist holed up in Nariman house killed
12.30 pm: 7 Britons injured in Mumbai terror attack
12.30 pm: Defence Minister AK Antony calls for Armed forces meet
11.59: Navy, Army take control at Oberoi Hotel
11.52: England Tour called off, team to return. T20 Cup doubtful
11.50: No ransom demands made so far says Govt
11.48: Mumbai places scanning city for RDX
11.35: Satellite link to Taj Hotel snapped
11.30: 15 hostages held inside Taj Hotel
11.25: French physicist among those held hostage
US Intelligence officials among those killed at Taj
Terror attack planned by Lashkar
Israel concerned, scans hospitals for missing nationals
Flights from Mumbai running on schedule
Terrorists took sea route to enter Mumbai
Mumbai under seige