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‘Taj and Oberoi were warned’
Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil said the Mumbai police had alerted the management of Taj and Oberoi hotels that both the premises were under threat of a terror attack. Shailesh Gaikwad reports.
Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil on Wednesday said the Mumbai police had alerted the management of Taj and Oberoi hotels that both the premises were under threat of a terror attack.
On September 26, Deputy Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil had a three-hour-long meeting with Taj officials to brief them about security measures.
He said the police had then suggested that the Taj should keep only the main entrance open and close the other doors.
Chavan had also suggested that the height of the north court gate be raised, that Close Circuit Television monitors are monitored every 24 hours and that all visitors must be checked thoroughly, Patil said, quoting what the Nangare Patil had said in the meeting.
The terrorists had allegedly jumped over the north court gate and entered the Taj Hotel premises on the day of the terror attack.
Chavan said the hotel management had not been keen to implement the measures saying they were a commercial organisation and hence did not want to trouble customers.
In the case of Oberoi-Trident, the police had given a 12-point security agenda for enhancing security, he added.
The state government had received intelligence advisory about threat to hotels after attack on Mariott hotel in Islamabad, Patil said.
