11-30-2008, 05:21 AM
Who was in charge?
Mumbai did not have one man in charge sitting in a command centre, directing operations. Instead, reflecting the diffused nature of the graded and gradual response, it had a multitude of security agencies who took over storming operations soon after the situation began slipping out of the Mumbai Police's hands around midnight of November 26.
Here's who they were:
Lt General Nobel Thamburaj
General Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Command, based in Pune. The Maharashtra and Gujarat (M&G) area commanded by Major General Hooda reports to him. Thamburaj is the army's next vice chief designate. When the troops of the M&G area and Marine Commandos could not break the siege, the southern command deployed army commandos flown in from outside Mumbai.
J.K. Dutt, Director General, NSG
Heads the 7,000-strong National Security Guard which is the union home ministry's special response unit. Has two arms â the Special Action Group (SAG) staffed entirely by army personnel on deputation and the Special Ranger Group (SRG) staffed by police and paramilitary forces on deputation. The NSG deployed two units of the SAG â 51 and 52 â tasked with counter-assault and anti-hijack to break the siege at the Oberoi and Taj hotels and Nariman House.
Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi
Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command based in Mumbai. Received a call from the Maharashtra chief secretary around Wednesday midnight requesting for Marine Commandos. Eighteen marine commandos were rushed into Taj Hotel and they began an encounter with the terrorists holed up inside around midnight. The force was increased to around 30 later in the day and assisted the NSG in operations for the next 48 hours.
Mumbai did not have one man in charge sitting in a command centre, directing operations. Instead, reflecting the diffused nature of the graded and gradual response, it had a multitude of security agencies who took over storming operations soon after the situation began slipping out of the Mumbai Police's hands around midnight of November 26.
Here's who they were:
Lt General Nobel Thamburaj
General Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Command, based in Pune. The Maharashtra and Gujarat (M&G) area commanded by Major General Hooda reports to him. Thamburaj is the army's next vice chief designate. When the troops of the M&G area and Marine Commandos could not break the siege, the southern command deployed army commandos flown in from outside Mumbai.
J.K. Dutt, Director General, NSG
Heads the 7,000-strong National Security Guard which is the union home ministry's special response unit. Has two arms â the Special Action Group (SAG) staffed entirely by army personnel on deputation and the Special Ranger Group (SRG) staffed by police and paramilitary forces on deputation. The NSG deployed two units of the SAG â 51 and 52 â tasked with counter-assault and anti-hijack to break the siege at the Oberoi and Taj hotels and Nariman House.
Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi
Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command based in Mumbai. Received a call from the Maharashtra chief secretary around Wednesday midnight requesting for Marine Commandos. Eighteen marine commandos were rushed into Taj Hotel and they began an encounter with the terrorists holed up inside around midnight. The force was increased to around 30 later in the day and assisted the NSG in operations for the next 48 hours.