Udupi: Paustine Martis (47) from Moodubelle Killed in Taj Hotel Firing
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (GA)
Udupi, Nov 28: Recent reports reaching Daijiworld office have indicated that one person hailing from Moodubelle (Belle) near here has been shot dead by terrorists in Hotel Taj.
The deceased has been identified as Paustine Martis (47), a native of Moodubelle parish. He had been working in Hotel Taj as supervisor for the last 19 years. Speaking to Daijiworld one of his relatives from Belle said that the family received the news of his death around 7 pm on Thursday November 27.
Paustine Martis
Paustine along with his wife Precilla, daughter Priya and son Floyd were living in Mumbai for long. While Paustine was working for Hotel Taj for 19 years, his daughter Priya has joined Hotel Taj as receptionist just a month ago. On Wednesday's attack both were trapped inside the Taj. While Priya was on fourth floor, Paustine was in his duty place. He had called his family members in Belle and said that he is safe and would come back along with daughter.
But the next news the family received was that he had been shot dead by the terrorists. But his daughter was safe and was finally released by the commandos at 10 am on Friday.
Paustine was the son of Valerian and Alice Martis of Kattingeri in Moodubelle. After getting the tragic news, his family members have now gone to Mumbai.
Updates at 05.40pm, IST, Nov 28
Fresh reports reaching Daijiworld confirmed that Srinivas Urala from Navadakeri in Kundapur who was working in Hotel Taj as cook is safe. Daijiworld had earlier published that there has not been any news from Srinivas. However, Daijiworld correspondent from Kundapur who managed to get Srinivas over the phone said that Srinivas is safe. "I along with three of my colleagues was on leave on Wednesday November 26 when Hotel Taj was attacked by terrorists. So we are safe here. But many of our junior cooks and other colleagues have not been so lucky as they have been shot dead by terrorists," Srinivas said.
In other instance, Dolphy Lobo, a resident of Moodubelle who too was working in Hotel Taj, has managed to escape from the clutches of terrorists. Dolphy's brother speaking to Daijiworld said that the latter was on duty on that fateful day when terror struck Hotel Taj around 9.30 pm. Amidst much of chaos, Dolphy managed to escape from the spot. However, his parishioner Paustine Martis who had taken him to Hotel Taj was not so lucky. Paustine was trapped inside and was finally shot dead by terrorists. It was Dolphy who actually identified Paustine's body in a hospital, said Dolphy's Lobo.
Taj Cook Srinivas Urala from Kundapur held Hostage by Terrorists
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SN)
Kundapur, Nov 28: The family of Srinivas Urala (52), a resident of Nadavara Keri who has been working as chief cook in Hotel Taj for the last 22 years is anxiously waiting for his news eversince the famed hotel was attacked by terrorists on the night of Wednesday November 26.
So far there has been no news from Srinivas. While 37 hotel staff have already been shot dead by the terrorists, Srinivas along with three other hotel staff has been held hostage by the terrorists. His family is worried that he is in grave danger since he has been held hostage.
There are another 10-12 people hailing from Hanglur and Koteshwasr who are working in Hote Taj. There has been no news from them so far. They all are working in different capacities in Hotel Taj and their family members are now in great despair without knowing about their whereabouts.
Yenepoya Abdul Kunhi, Family Have Close Shave
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SN)
Mangalore, Nov 28: Even as the battle between the terrorists and police is on in Mumbai, gradually news about those who had a miraculous escape in the attack are coming to the fore. One among them is Mangalorean Yenepoya Abdul Kunhi and his family.
Yenepoya Abdul Kunhi, chancellor, Yenepoya University who had been to Mumbai on some personal work along with his family members had a close shave in the ongoing terror attacks in Mumbai.
Abdul Kunni along with his wife, daughter and daughter-in-law had been to Mumbai and were staying in Hotel Taj from Monday November 24.
On Wednesday November 26 night, the entire family had gone to their relative Harris' house for dinner at 8.30 pm. Barely minutes after they left Hotel Taj for dinner, it was ambushed and attacked by militants. Abdul Kunhi came to know about the attack through TV news. He immediately contacted Hotel Taj authorities who informed him not to come to the hotel.
Abdul Kunhi said that it was God's grace that saved him and his family. Though they are safe, all their belongings are inside their room in Hotel Taj. Owing to the ongoing battle between the police and militants they are not in a position to recover their belongings as of now.