The Hindu : Front Page : Jewish baby in safe hands

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Monday, Dec 01, 2008
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Jewish baby in safe hands

Rahi Gaikwad

Mumbai: The Jewish baby from Nariman House, which escaped the fate of her family members killed in the terror attack, is in safe hands.

“A lady from Israel came down to take her,” said a source at the Colaba police station. It is not yet confirmed if that baby has been flown to Israel yet. Sources at the station said the infant was with her grandmother.

A few members from the Israeli Embassy had arrived at the station to take stock of the situation and to reclaim the bodies of the three family members and their belongings. They did not wish to speak to the media. However, a person who was part of the group said they planned to hold a prayer service as per their religious rituals.

On Friday, a panic-stricken cook rushed out of Nariman House with the baby. She was taken under the care of the police.

Vasant Soma Koli, a local resident popularly known in the locality as ‘master’ said that when the gunshots were heard, locals gathered around the building and started shouting. They threw stones and kept up the alarm till the police arrived.

“The terrorists came with backpacks. One of them bought milk from a nearby shop. He drank some of it, paid the money, did not take the change back and barged into the house. The firing started at 9.30 p.m., two policemen arrived at 12.30 a.m., the State Reserve Police came at 2.30 a.m. and, finally, the Rapid Action Force came at 4.30 a.m. One local youth lost his life when the terrorist fired back and some people were injured,” he said.

Around 25,000 people live in the area. “The locals also offered to make kerosene bombs to hurl at the attackers,” he said.

According to Mr. Koli, the terrorists could have killed the family, comprising Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, his wife Rivka and their son, immediately on arrival. “When their bodies were removed, they were swollen,” he said.

Mumbai resident Ruth Krishnan, from the Jewish Religious Union, said they provided accommodation to young Israelis who come to India on vacation.

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