New Delhi - Armed guards kept vigil as Mumbai's Trident Hotel reopened with a multi-faith prayer meet Sunday, less than a month after the establishment was damaged in terrorist attacks in the city that killed more than 170 people.
Another luxury hotel, the Taj, that came under siege by suspected Muslim militants between November 26 and 29 was to reopen with a similar prayer ceremony later on Sunday.
Dozens of guests and staff at the hotels were killed as the militants went on a shooting rampage inside the buildings.
Security was markedly tighter in and around the Trident, with policemen positioned among bunkers of sandbags near the entrance to the hotel.
Guards manned various entry and exit points while staff checked identity cards and passed visitors' bags through X-ray scanners and metal detectors.
Some minutes after noon, emotional scenes were witnessed inside the lobby where prayers from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Jain scriptures were offered to mark hotel's opening.
Guests started trickling in, telling reporters that they would not be cowed down by the terrorists.
"We are here to show the affected people that we are with them and we will do all we can to support them," Krutika Sriniwasan, a hotel guest said.
"It is also to convey an important message and show them (the terrorists) that we are not going to be cowed down and we will not give in," she added.
Management of the two hotels said the less damaged sections of the two hotels were being reopened.
While 100 rooms of the Trident were reopened Sunday, it could take seven months for the adjoining Oberoi Hotel to resume functioning, officials from the Oberoi group that owns both hotels told local media.
The Taj, among the most famous hotels in India, will reopen its modern Tower wing area and make 268 hotel rooms available, officials said.
However, the 105-year-old main section, which bore the brunt of the attack, will remain closed for between seven months to a year since it requires extensive renovations.
Rattan Keswani, president of the Trident, said hard work had gone on the restoration and repairs and the hotel was fitted with the latest surveillance systems, baggage scanners and tight security.
"If any guest walks in here, he will not find anything out of place. It is just as it was earlier. We have made sure we don't leave anything that brings back any memory," he told reporters.
India blames militants from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba for staging the attacks that killed 164 people, including 26 foreign nationals. Nine terrorists were also shot dead by security forces in the gunbattles.
Source:http://www.topnews.in/
Another luxury hotel, the Taj, that came under siege by suspected Muslim militants between November 26 and 29 was to reopen with a similar prayer ceremony later on Sunday.
Dozens of guests and staff at the hotels were killed as the militants went on a shooting rampage inside the buildings.
Security was markedly tighter in and around the Trident, with policemen positioned among bunkers of sandbags near the entrance to the hotel.
Guards manned various entry and exit points while staff checked identity cards and passed visitors' bags through X-ray scanners and metal detectors.
Some minutes after noon, emotional scenes were witnessed inside the lobby where prayers from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Jain scriptures were offered to mark hotel's opening.
Guests started trickling in, telling reporters that they would not be cowed down by the terrorists.
"We are here to show the affected people that we are with them and we will do all we can to support them," Krutika Sriniwasan, a hotel guest said.
"It is also to convey an important message and show them (the terrorists) that we are not going to be cowed down and we will not give in," she added.
Management of the two hotels said the less damaged sections of the two hotels were being reopened.
While 100 rooms of the Trident were reopened Sunday, it could take seven months for the adjoining Oberoi Hotel to resume functioning, officials from the Oberoi group that owns both hotels told local media.
The Taj, among the most famous hotels in India, will reopen its modern Tower wing area and make 268 hotel rooms available, officials said.
However, the 105-year-old main section, which bore the brunt of the attack, will remain closed for between seven months to a year since it requires extensive renovations.
Rattan Keswani, president of the Trident, said hard work had gone on the restoration and repairs and the hotel was fitted with the latest surveillance systems, baggage scanners and tight security.
"If any guest walks in here, he will not find anything out of place. It is just as it was earlier. We have made sure we don't leave anything that brings back any memory," he told reporters.
India blames militants from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba for staging the attacks that killed 164 people, including 26 foreign nationals. Nine terrorists were also shot dead by security forces in the gunbattles.
Source:http://www.topnews.in/
The attacks have put India's relations with Pakistan under severe strain with Delhi saying that Islamabad was not honouring its commitment of acting against anti-India militants on its soil.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that Pakistan had been given enough evidence regarding the terrorist attacks and "Islamabad must act," the PTI news agency reported.
"Pakistan has been contradicting its statements. Enough evidence has been given to Pakistan. Pakistan must cooperate and not contradict us. Mere talk is not enough. Pakistan has to act," Mukherjee told reporters in eastern Kolkata city.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that Pakistan had been given enough evidence regarding the terrorist attacks and "Islamabad must act," the PTI news agency reported.
"Pakistan has been contradicting its statements. Enough evidence has been given to Pakistan. Pakistan must cooperate and not contradict us. Mere talk is not enough. Pakistan has to act," Mukherjee told reporters in eastern Kolkata city.
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