MUMBAI ATTACKS: Sources + news orgs seeking sources

[See SAJAforum's full coverage of the Mumbai attacks]

Two sets of listings here:

First, sources available now
Second, journalists looking for sources

Sources available now:

If you are an editor looking for a freelancer in Mumbai, PLEASE CLICK HERE to see SAJA's listings of freelancers in South Asia

Roy Wadia, Mumbai-based media consultant and former CNN International executive producer: "just to say feel free to lean on me for commentary/blogs/webcasts if needed re the situation here in Bombay -- not for spot news per se, but for the impact this is having across the range of society, from the lower income groups (having lots of conversations with taxi drivers, domestic workers, etc) to the upper echelons (interesting conversations at Willingdon Club, in tony bars and restaurants). And of course, through my friends in the media here."
+91 98205 28007, rwadia[at]mindspring.com

Journalist Dharmesh: "i'm at the taj hotel and nariman building where a jewish couple is held hostages, reporting for NDTV"
+91 921919591, correspondent.india@gmail.com

US journalists can get in touch with actor/social activist Rahul Bose. He recently won a citizen's journalist award for interviewing passengers on local trains the day after previous bomb blasts.
His mobile is:  +91.98.210.71545 .  E-mail is rahulbose7[at]gmail.com , but calling will have better results.

Kalpana Sharma
Independent Journalist/Columnist in Mumbai
Tel: +91-22-2363-7465/2367-3550
Mobile: +91-98200-81662
Email: kalpusharma[at]gmail.com/sharma.kalpana[at]yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.indiatogether.org/opinions/kalpana/ [www.indiatogether.org]
Blog: http://kscribe-kalpanasharma.blogspot.com

Asia Society's source list

For the latest on the Mumbai attacks, Asia Society can put you in touch with the following experts.  Please email all of the following - dlee[at]asiasociety.org, hedab[at]asiasociety.org, elainem[at]asiasociety.org--to reach us.

Asia Society Fellow MIRA KAMDAR, author of Planet India: How the Fastest Growing Democracy is Transforming America and the World, has been reporting the story all day/evening and is available in New York.

"What has become apparent in this still unfolding story," she says, "is that this is an attack of historic proportions.  Altogether, as many as ten different targets across the city, especially in the southern part of the city were hit in this complex, coordinated set of attacks by terrorists toting machine guns and lobbing grenades striking Mumbai's most famous and prestigious landmarks, including the Taj Mahal hotel, the Oberoi hotel, and the main railway station, Victoria Station. Hostages, including Western hostages and Americans, have it is believed been taken hostage...the first time in the history of terrorist attacks in India that Westerners--Americans and Britons--have been specifically sought out. Indian police and army units are attempting to retake the Taj and the Oberoi hotel.  The Taj hotel is an iconic symbol of India and of Mumbai.  A heretofore unheard of group, Deccan Mujahadeen is rumored to have taken responsibility.  It's also important to note the series of attacks elsewhere in India over the past several months in Bangalore, Assam, Delhi, - a drumbeating. But the method--no longer just a car exploding but brazen hotel and hospital takeovers with police shootouts, with at least scores of attackers in the biggest attacks aimed at India's most symbolic monuments, in its financial capital, is unprecedented.  The targeting of Westerners who are reportedly hostages at this point is certainly meant to get attention at the international level, as well as to panic foreign businessmen, diplomats and tourists."

Asia Society Fellow PRAMIT PAL CHAUDHURI, Senior Editor at the Hindustan Times, is coordinating coverage from Delhi.

One television cameraman he knows of, was shot taking video of terrorists running away in a hijacked police van. Like Mira, Pramit says these attacks are on a whole new scale, "arguably the most widespread and carefully coordinated such attacks since 9/11.  The possibility of an Al Qaeda hand, combined with some local militant groups, cannot be ruled out: 1) the terrorists singled out American and British tourists, 2) they have taken Israelis hostages staying at a Jewish guesthouse, 3) attacking prominent hotels favoured by foreigners and 4) the modus operandi of surgical strikes by armed gunmen directly confronting soldiers is out of character with Indian Muslim radical groups. They have carried out anonymous attacks against specifically Indian targets, have tended to ignore foreigners and have never hit out at Jewish targets."

Asia Society Fellow SADANAND DHUME, author of My Friend the Fanatic,  is in Delhi.

The main lesson, says Sadanand, “is that this is India's terrorism problem truly going global. India has been suffering from terrorism attacks particularly this year, but both the style and the scale of the current attack makes everything that’s passed before pale in comparison. What it really means is that the world will have to figure out how to deal with this new escalation and new tactics by Islamist terrorist organizations.  So it's a game-changer for India but more importantly for the how the war on terror is fought worldwide.  In addition, the timing, right after the Obama election, tells us that while it may not be an explicit reaction, it’s definitely a wakeup call for those of us who believed that the problem was only George Bush. These groups are motivated and have their own ideology, they are very committed and very organized. We can’t wish this problem away, and in the age of globalized terror, these  terrorists are aware they're sending a message to the US and democratic capitalist societies in the West, underscored by their singling out of British and American tourists.

Asia Society India Centre Executive Director BUNTY CHAND is in Mumbai.

Asia Society in India is located in South Mumbai where most of the attacks took place. Bunty says "We are shocked and deeply concerned since these attacks were directed at the communities we live and work in. Obviously these attacks were meant to frighten and demoralize Mumbai, the financial capital of India. We hope the situation will resolve quickly and the city of Mumbai can return to normal as soon as possible.  It is important to say that Mumbaikars can best serve the city by going back to business as usual; that said, with gunshots still going off in Mumbai, that may be premature."

Asia Society Associate Fellow SIMONE AHUJA, founder of Blood Orange Media based in Mumbai and Minneapolis, is also in Mumbai.

"People are on alert," Simone reports. "But what is remarkable is that trains are running today, Thursday morning, which is quite a statement for Mumbai. However, there are not a lot of commuters on the trains. This is something that has not happened before (after an attack). In the past, you would see people returning to their normal lives, going to work, to school - call it the spirit of Mumbai. But today that's not the case. There are very very few cars, rickshaws and taxis on the road. There's anxiety in the air."

We are listing U.S and Canadian media outlets looking to talk to folks in Mumbai. Please use these contacts only for story ideas:

• CNN Larry King Live:
  Avrielle.gallagher[at]turner.com
  If you would like to share my info with viewers as well – Larry would like to talk to witnesses & local journalists.
• Wall Street Journal:
  Amir.Efrati[at]wsj.com
  Looking for companies doing business with India

• NBC News with Brian Williams
  Subrata.De[at]nbcuni.com
• Canadian Broadcasting Company
  Deen.Kari[at]cbc.ca
• CBS News
  "We are looking for any eyewitnesses to any of the attacks. Please call 212-975-3019 if you can talk to us about what you've seen.
  Also: SAJA member and correspondent: Hari Sreenivasan, Hari[at]ompower.com
• "Keeping It Real" With Rev. Al Sharpton
  nida1k[at]yahoo.com
• Fox News Channel
  Michael Kingsley, Kingsley[a]foxnews.com
  
• National Public Radio
  
• "Feet In Two Worlds"
  John Rudolph <j.rudolph[at]verizon.net>
  Diego Graglia <nydf[at]diegograglia.net>
  

Please use the comments section to add yourself.

Comments

[Siddharth Ashvin Shah, M.D.]

This is the letter I've sent to my contacts in India...

To my fellow colleagues in psychosocial, mental and emotional health:

During a crisis like this, I am sure you are working extraordinary hours while trying to manage your own emotions. As an Indian-American physician with expertise on the psychosocial and neurobiological aspects of trauma, I want to offer my technical and human support through this process of helping people recover from the shock and terror of the attacks.

I have hands-on experience trans-nationally (but especially in India) regarding psychosocial responses to mass trauma. My membership in three important U.S.-based professional mental health organizations responding to terrorism can give access to a larger support system – if you deem this helpful.

I can play a supportive role to practitioners (therapists, spiritual care providers & health care workers). Technical assistance could help ease some of the natural uncertainty and stress that occurs in teams actively assisting people who are traumatized and grieving. To be specific, I am offering the any of the following:

1. Advise regarding psychosocial first aid and crisis counseling as questions come up in practitioners. Advise psychiatrists and emergency staff on the medical response to psychological consequences of mass trauma.

2. Raise awareness on vicarious trauma in which practitioners prematurely burnout or develop trauma themselves in the process of working in the midst of terrorized people. Supervisors and organizations can learn how to manage practitioners’ level of stress with self-care and other methodologies in order to mitigate vicarious traumatization (also called secondary traumatic stress or compassion fatigue).

3. Assist with responding to the special circumstances of the international/tourist victims.

4. Consult on the mid-term effects on a city and nation affect by an expanding terrorism (that prominently targets hospitals, for example). Colleagues and I are interested in helping societies build resilience and combat large group psychology of fear.

One clarification on the point of collegiality, I strive to avoid imposing my American perspective inappropriately to a situation that is Indian. I am available to you and your local mental health response teams as a consultant and technical advisor. If you wish, I can send my CV and some of my writing on the subject of mass trauma response. I will be in India within a week.

My spirit goes out to you in solidarity,
Siddharth Ashvin Shah
--
Siddharth Ashvin Shah, M.D., M.P.H. (www.siddharthshah.com)
Medical Director, Greenleaf Integrative Strategies (www.greenleaf-is.com)
Fellow, Psychology Beyond Borders (www.psychologybeyondborders.com)
Mobile: (917) 405-3316

[Jaya Kamlani]

CNN Update:

An Australian was shot dead in his head at the Oberoi hotel yesterday (eyewitness report).
6 Canadians are being held hostage (can't recall which hotel - possibly Oberoi).
3 Americans injured. U.S. authorities don't know if any Americans are being held hostage.

U.S. Authorities have advised not to travel in and out of Mumbai for the next 24 hours, if you can help it. However, the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is open in case you need your passport updated, or for whatever reason. My Indian-American friend who is visiting India is supposed to take a flight out of Mumbai tomorrow night (Friday). She is with her family at Juhu, the town where the Ramada Hotel was under attack. She wrote this morning (NY time) that there is still curfew in Mumbai and does not know if her flight will take off for America tomorrow. I am supposed to meet her and her husband at the airport in America and spend the day with them before they take the local flight for their hometown in U.S. Will keep you posted if I hear any more from her regarding flights out of Mumbai.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

CNN update:

8 Jewish hostages released at the Jewish Nariman House.
FBI sending a team to India to help resolve the crisis. 3 Americans confirmed hurt.
U.S. Consulate open for any passport changes or help to American citizen/residents.
Taj Palace Hotel: CNN anounced said seige is over at Taj Palace Hotel(per CNN-IBN) then all at once they heard another shot at the Taj hotel just now. Fresh fire blazes seen about half an hour ago. Three gunmen shot dead. One attacker still fighting it out with the security forces.
Oberoi Hotel: Gunshots still heard. Fresh fire blazes there too. 10 hostages freed, walk out of the hotel. A couple of gunmen are still believed to be there. Don't know if they are still holding any more hostages.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

CNN: Israeli rescue team on its way to India.
Although 8 hostages were released at the Nariman house, the Rabbi, his wife and two more people are still held hostage at this Jewish Center. A little child was taken out of the Jewish facilities (by whom, I don't know). Could be the Rabbi's kid.
The FBI small team is leaving from Los Angeles, including forsenic experts and others to help solve the crime.

Jaya Kamlani

[Smriti Rao]

CNN:
Terrorists set up control rooms in The Taj and The Oberoi. There is evidence that the operation was planned over months.Police say most hostages have been set free
Gunmen attacked atleast 7 locations across Mumbai including the Jewish Center. 4 people inside - including the Rabbi. 10-20 others might be held hostage at the Jewish Center- Nariman House.

Union Minister Kapil Sibbal: Terrorists targetted these Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers despite the fact they were wearing vests and helmets

Security Expert:
We dont know the motive for the attack. The 28 Indian states dont communicate their intelligence with each other. Control rooms were the command center - if you look at the targets, they were all soft targets. The security profile in India was lowered recently and it seems like the terrorists had information about this.

[Jeff Ballou]

We are looking for current and former hostages, eyewitnesses,politicians,Indian military for phoners and even on camera if possible.

Please reach out to 001-202-413-0094 mobile. Thanks.

[Jeff Ballou]

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH

We are looking for current and former hostages, eyewitnesses,politicians,Indian military for phoners and even on camera if possible.

Please reach out to 001-202-413-0094 mobile. Thanks.

[Jaya Kamlani]

So far CNN has mentioned the Jewish Nariman House where 8 hostages were released, but still some 6 or so remain in custody. Then CNN mentioned the Chabad House, another Jewish Center where the Rabbi, his wife and a couple of other people are held up.

QUESTION: So we have the Nariman House and the Chabad House. How far are these two Jewish Centers from each other in Mumbai? Or, is the Nariman House also known as the Chabad House? ..... I am very familiar with the Churchgate and Colaba area, but not familiar with building names. Nariman House is probably a waterfront property on Nariman Road, Churchgate, close to the Oberoi hotel.

By the way, they interviewed an NRI from America on CNN-IBN, who told his story of being trapped in his hotel room for an entire day at one of the top floors of the "new" Taj building. (I will not mention his name here, for the sake of his privacy). But this gentleman mentioned that the gunmen took the hostages to the 18th floor of the new building, via the stairway.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

CNN finally answered my question. Chabad House was formerly known as the Nariman House. It is off the main road and about 3 kilometers from the Taj Palace Hotel which was under seige.

Hostages are still holed up at the Chabad House, the Jewish Center. The 8 hostages that were freed earlier were actually residents from the house next door to the Chabad House that was also in the line of fire. Police helped them escape. Also those who escaped from the Chabad House itself are the caretaker, the cook and a child. The others, including the Rabbi and his family, are still being held hostage. Two explosions were heard by the Chabad House.

Jaya Kamlani

[ashishdimri]

Dear SAJA,
Please take help of vernaculars!
They know what is going around!
May I recommend Maharastra Times,Sakaal.
You can also take help of many web based newssites.
Just google,you may get marathi or hindi news web sites which may prove helpful!
warm regards,
yours,
ashish dimri

[Jaya Kamlani]

On Nov. 27th, @ 12:20 pm, I wrote of my Indian-American friend returning home to U.S. from Mumbai. I was to see her and her husband early on Saturday morning (NY time) at the airport and spend the day with them before they took a local flight home in the evening.

UPDATE: I just recevied a call from her from Mumbai. Her flight from Mumbai to America on this Friday night (Mumbai time) has been cancelled. She said all flights are cancelled. They have now to book another flight to America.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

NDTV:
5 hostages and 2 terrorists dead at the Nariman House Jewish Center … aka Chabad House. Rabbi and his wife among the dead.
Heavy round of firing still going on at the Taj Hotel. No hostages at the Taj any more. Firing between a terrorist and the Indian Commandos.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

- No one left alive at the Nariman House. Repeat: 5 hostages and 2 terrorists dead. Three huge explosions occurred at the Nariman house in the last ten minutes – set off by the Indian security forces to ensure no terrorists left behind. Nariman operation almost over. An Israeli couple also died at the Nariman house, besides the Rabbi and his wife. The Israeli couple's little child is fortunately in safe hands, as the cook and caretaker escaped with the child yesterday.
- All terrorists killed at the Oberoi.
- Heavy firing and repeated bomb explosions at the Taj Wasabi restaurant (per Srinivasan Jain). 1 terrorist still inside Taj. A new fire breaks out in the other wing of the Taj Hotel.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

NDTV Update: 30 hostages dead at Oberoi Hotel: 6 yesterday; 24 today. Many prominent people among the dead.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

NDTV:
- Bodies being brought out of the Taj hotel back entrance.
- Over 150 people killed so far during Mumbai attacks.
- 20 people killed at Tiffin restaurant itself at the Oberoi hotel. Yes Bank Chairman Ashok Kapur among the dead at Oberoi’s 19th floor.
- South African Commandos came to the rescue at the Oberoi. (Don’t know much about it)
- Per Indian authorities many terrorists found dead were of Pakistani descent. (NDTV & CNN)
- "Head of the Pakistani intelligence is going to India" (CNN). When? I don't know.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

NDTV:
- Wasabi restaurant at the Taj on fire the last hour.
- Pakistan residents' involvement: Plans for these Mumbai attacks began 6 months ago. Group of Mumbai terrorists spent about 4 days in Karachi. Data from GPS system found on trawler reveals that terrorists sailed from Karachi on November 12 or 13th. Mobile phone found on a dead terrorist shows calls made to Pakistan. Mobile phone used to make calls to Lashkar Commander Yusuf Muzamil in Muzaffarabad. On November 18th, coastguard in Mumbai was warned of possibility of infiltration by sea route, via Arabian Sea.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

NDTV Update on Pakistan and Bangladesh involvement (addendum to my last comment):
- Group of 40 terrorists involved. 29 of them Pakistanis; the rest Bangladeshi nationals. 20 of these terrorists came to Mumbai a week ago and lived in the city; the others arrived later by sea. One group attacked North India; the other group attacked South India.
- Mumbaikars wonder where was Bal Thackeray (Shiv Sena party leader) when you needed him most?

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

CNN:
- 4 American citizens killed: Rabbi Gabriel Holzberg and his wife of Brooklyn, New York, died at the Chabad Jewish Center, Nariman House. Their 2-year old toddler was taken out to safety by cook and caretaker yesterday... Also dead were Alan Scherr of Synchronicity Foundation and Professor at University of Maryland, his wife and 13-year old daughter. Victims of shooting at the Oberoi Hotel. They were on a pilgrimage to India.
- FYI: Presently there are approximately 10,000 Jews in India.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

FBI agents ordered to India to investigate attacks
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_india_shooting

WASHINGTON – The government ordered FBI agents Friday to fly to India to investigate the bloody Mumbai attacks that killed two American travelers and a former New York couple. U.S. citizens still in the city were warned their lives remain at risk. Intelligence officials looked urgently for clues about the identity of the attackers, a crucial unknown as Indian officials charged, without giving details, that "elements in Pakistan" were involved. A tentative rapprochement between the two nuclear-armed rivals could hang in the balance, and a U.S. counterintelligence official cautioned against rushing to judgment on the origins of the militants.

The investigators aim to learn more about the militants who carried out the lethal strikes on luxury hotels, a train station and an Orthodox Jewish center where a rabbi and his wife, who had moved to Mumbai from New York, were among five hostages slain. An American and his teenage daughter traveling with a Virginia-based spiritual group were also among those killed during the coordinated attacks.

"Americans are still at risk on the ground" in Mumbai on Friday, the State Department said Friday, warning citizens not to travel to the stricken city at least through the weekend. U.S. officials were checking with Indian authorities and hospitals to learn more about the extent of casualties.

In New York, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement confirmed Friday that Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, Rivkah, were among those killed in the terrorist assault on the ultraconservative group's Mumbai headquarters.

A spokeswoman for a meditation group in Virginia said two Americans traveling with the organization in Mumbai also were killed. Bobbie Garvey, speaking for the Synchronicity Foundation, based in Faber, Va., identified the two slain members as Alan Scherr, 58, and his 13-year-old daughter, Naomi.

Jaya Kamlani

[Brian Lehrer Show]

We are looking for effective contact information for Mira Kamdar. We would like to interview her on-air this morning (Dec 1) after the Obama press conference concludes. We've left messages for her at Asia Society, World Policy Institute and her literary agent and her asia society email, but would like a more direct contact. Can someone help? I'm at 646.829.4030, WNYC. Thanks.

[MoorthyM]

Muslim war criminals
The Washington Times
Saturday, December 6, 2008
MOORTHY MUTHUSWAMY

The Wednesday editorial "What India needs" is good on intent but outlines unrealistic recommendations on how India could better protect itself.

India is among the most impoverished nations in the world and is also poorly governed. This is unlikely to change for decades to come. Hence, one has to conclude that India is incapable of replicating the kind of war in which the Western nations have been engaged, albeit with limited success, against Islamic forces.

The jihadist group behind the Mumbai massacre is Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Considerable funding for Lashkar comes from Saudi-government-linked "charities," and its logistical support comes from the government of Pakistan through its armed forces.

There should be no question as to what Saudi intentions are. The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington recommends the Web site for its Islamic Affairs Department (www.iad.org), which advocated the following:

"The Muslims are required to raise the banner of jihad in order to make the Word of Allah supreme in this world, to remove all forms of injustice and oppression, and to defend the Muslims. If Muslims do not take up the sword, the evil tyrants of this earth will be able to continue oppressing the weak and helpless."

The terrorists sent from Pakistan weren't saying anything much different from the above quote in justifying their massacre in Mumbai. Of course, they exchanged the sword for the gun -- and tomorrow, they might go for nukes.

The role of Saudi Arabia in spreading a venomous ideology and using it to advance its sphere of influence couldn't be clearer. Shouldn't the Saudis be asked to pay for damages incurred in Mumbai?

How come we are unable to identify a single Muslim version of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in either Saudi Arabia or Pakistan despite their association with a long-standing pattern of crimes against humanity conducted against non-Muslims in extended areas? It is unfortunate that the State Department's Office of War Crimes Issues, led by Ambassador Clint Williamson, seems to have ignored a mountain of evidence and not looked into these issues critically thus far.

Putting these states on the dock may be one good way to mobilize the international community to neutralize the threat emanating from them.