Investigators have picked up clues: Patil

Investigators have picked up certain clues in connection with the terror attacks in Mumbai, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in New Delhion Thursday but refused to share details.

"We have certain information but it is premature information. It will not be proper to share premature information as it may compromise the ongoing operations," he told reporters after a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh is expected to visit Mumbai in a day or two, Patil said, adding the Prime Minister was in touch with Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

"We are ready to extend all help to the Maharashtragovernment. The Centre had sent naval commandos as also NSG commandos to help Mumbai police in the anti-terror operations," Patil said.

The Cabinet condemned the terror attacks in Mumbai as "dastardly" and expressed sympathy with the victims.

The bravery of senior police officers Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar and others who were killed in the encounter with terrorists came in for special mention during the meeting.

Patil briefed the Cabinet about the situation in Mumbai, where he said operations against terrorists were on at three places in the commercial capital.

The Home Minister parried questions on whether it was an intelligence failure and said that the Centre has inputs regarding terrorist activities.

 

Terrorists had left before I reached terror sites: Patil

 

"Before I could reach there, the terrorists who had attacked one of the hospitals, the Cama Hospital, had left and those who attacked the railway station had also left," Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in New Delhi on Thursday.

 

Patil, who briefed the Cabinet on the situation in Mumbai, was giving details to media about his visit to the city after terrorists struck there.

 

He said after the terrorists, who attacked Cama Hospital, "left" the police chased them and killed one of them and injured another.

 

Patil, who condemned the attack as an act of cowardice, said the country would remain strong even as the terrorists attempt to weaken and create difficulty for the Citizens.

The Home Minister had condoled the loss of lives, including top ranking police officers, in the attack and said their sacrifice would inspire the rest of the force to do their duty more resolutely.

 

Mumbai situation being dealt as 'war-time emergency': Jaiswal

 

The government on Thursday equated the Mumbai terror attacks to a "war" thrust upon the nation and vowed to give a "befitting" reply to the perpetrators.

 

"We are considering the terrorists attack in Mumbai as a war and dealing the situation like war-time emergency," Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters at New Delhi on Thursday.

 

Jaiswal said all necessary action was being taken to get to the bottom of the incident and arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

 

"We want to assure people that a befitting reply will be given to the terrorists," he said.

 

"The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) himself has been monitoring the situation since last night and is constantly in touch with the Chief Minister (Vilasrao Deshmukh)," he said.

 

Jaiswal said apart from the 200 National Security Guard commandos, those from Navy and Army were also deployed in Mumbai.

 

"Firing at a few places is still continuing and we hope that everything will be over very soon," he said.

 

Asked about who were behind the terror attacks, the Minister said it was too early to say anything at present.