Amitabh Sharma, Features Coordinator

The effects of the orchestrated terrorist attacks in Mumbai - the financial capital of India - is being felt among the Indian expatriate population in Jamaica.

"This is an unfortunate and dastardly act, we are shocked and condemn this senseless violence and killing of innocent people," said Mohinder Grover, India's high commissioner to Jamaica, yesterday.

"India has been bleeding from terrorist attacks but we have been steadfast in our resolve that terrorist acts cannot be justified under any situation whatsoever," Grover told The Gleaner.

Luxury hotels

Indian commandos spent a second day fighting to wrest control of two luxury hotels and a Jewish centre from suspected Muslim militants in Mumbai yesterday.

During a chain of attacks across the city on Wednesday, at least 119 people were killed.

Harshad Anaokar, an Indian from Mumbai who is now living in Jamaica, got a call from his wife around 12:30 p.m Wednesday.

"I was very nervous, I immediately called my nephew to check that everyone was fine," said Anaokar, who is the financial controller at K. Chandiram Ltd in New Kingston.

The attacks, described in Indian media as a nightmare that has changed Mumbai and India forever, have angered Montego Bay-based executive, Ashish Jhingran.

Meanwhile, the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, urged citizens to maintain calm, at the same time sending a strong message to the perpetrators.

"We will go after these individuals and organisations and make sure that every perpetrator, organiser and supporter of terror pays a heavy price for these cowardly acts," he said in a televised address to the nation yesterday.

The Indian financial capital, which has been the target for terrorists in the past, was rocked by seven blasts in suburban trains and stations in July 2006.

This left more than 200 people dead. In March 1993, a series of blasts at the Bombay Stock Exchange, hotels, theatres and the airport left 257 dead and around 700 injured.

The ongoing England-India cricket one-day series was called off following the terror attacks.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com

The government of India has set up control rooms in Mumbai and New Delhi:

Contact Phone numbers in Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi

+91-11-2301-5300

+91-11-2301-2113

Phone numbers in Mumbai

+91-22-2432-9800