Taj and Oberoi 'tragically' failed on security alerts: Report

MUMBAI: The Taj and Oberoi hotel managements had "tragically" failed to implement important security advice given by Mumbai police prior to November 26 terror attacks owing to "own policy perspective as hospitality industry", the Ram Pradhan committee report says.

The Mumbai police had carried out discussions with both the hotel managements as the Intelligence Bureau in September last year had sent an alert saying the Lashkar-e-Taiba was "showing interest" on certain targets like Taj Mahal Palace hotel etc in the metropolis.

"The Committee is constrained to observe that tragically, the Taj and the Oberoi managements did not implement certain important security advice given by DCP Zone-1 because of their own policy perspective as a hospitality industry.

The Committee has noted that no request was received from Taj or other hotels to augment police security for them in view of such alert," the panel said in its report.

Describing the run of meetings between Mumbai police officers and the hotels management prior to the attacks, the committee said, "on receipt of IB alert dated September 24 2008 that LeT was showing 'interest' on certain targets like Taj Mahal Palace hotel etc, another meeting was held with Taj security officials on September 29, 2008 by DCP Zone-1 when Karam Bir Kang, General Manager of the hotel was also present.