The married female lawyer is being held in the Oberoi hotel
By
Teh Joo Lin
Mr Jai S. Sohan, the director of MFA's consular directorate, said: 'As far as we understand, the Singaporean has not been harmed.' -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
A SINGAPOREAN held hostage in a luxury hotel in Mumbai overrun by terrorists remains unharmed in an ongoing stand-off with Indian authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said last evening.
She is believed to be a married lawyer in her 20s who works for a law firm here but had gone to India on a business trip. She and her husband have no children, sources told The Straits Times.
The Singapore authorities first learnt about the hostage situation in the Oberoi Hotel from her family members, who called the MFA at about 6am yesterday.
The woman, among some 20 foreigners reportedly taken hostage in the city, had managed to contact her loved ones.
Mr Jai S. Sohan, the director of MFA's consular directorate, said: 'As far as we understand, the Singaporean has not been harmed.'
He did not refer to her gender or her other details at briefings for reporters, citing the family's request for privacy.
They have now flown to Mumbai.
So have some Singapore diplomats, who are working with the Indian authorities to secure her release and ensure the safety of the 100-odd Singaporeans who are in the city for work, a vacation or other reasons.
Mr Sohan said the MFA was in touch with the family and the focus now was on securing the hostage's safe release.
An Indian news channel reported yesterday that the terrorists had held the woman at gun point and told her to relay to Singapore diplomats this message: Tell the Mumbai authorities to refrain from acting against them - or lose her life.
Officials said at least 100 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in the gun-and-grenade attacks by Islamic militants across India's financial capital that began late on Wednesday.
At press time, at least six foreign nationals - including a Japanese, a Briton and an Australian - were reported to have been killed; a news report said the wounded foreigners included Singaporeans, but the MFA said it had not received word of Singaporean casualties.
The woman is the only one who appears in mortal danger among a dozen or so Singaporeans who were at the posh Oberoi, Trident and Taj Mahal hotels when the gunmen stormed them.
Among them, four - excluding the hostage - are still 'stranded' for various reasons in the three hotels, while the rest managed to clear out.
Mr Sohan stressed that the four are 'not in a hostage situation' and are in 'constant contact' with MFA officials. 'Two or three' are holed up in their rooms at the Oberoi, a choice they made for their own safety.
At least one Singaporean, a woman who stayed at the Taj Mahal, is expected to fly home today, he added.
Across Mumbai, the MFA has linked up with all but four of the 115 Singaporeans known to be there. They are safe.
One of them who has taken refuge in her friend's house told The Straits Times that she had been advised to 'stay safe and not move anywhere' unless she was 'very sure' of what was happening.
The Singapore Government has extended an offer of assistance to India, but this has yet to be taken up.
Mr Sohan said: 'Whatever assistance is needed by the Indian government, if they do request, we'll take it...
'What we should ensure at this point in time is, any action we take, we do not put (those stranded) in greater harm's way than necessary.'
The MFA has advised Singaporeans 'without a pressing need' to fly to Mumbai to postpone their travel. They should also 'avoid all non-essential travel' to India, said a spokesman.
If they need to go there, they should register with the ministry at www.mfa.gov.sg so they can be reached in emergencies, she added.
