NSG commandos reach the top of Nariman House through a helicopter in Mumbai on Friday. Photo: PTI

Mumbai (IANS): A raging gunbattle with terrorists at the Nariman House, a Jewish centre, ended onFriday night after 48 hours with the crack National Security Guard (NSG) commandos killing two terrorists in an operation codenamed 'Black Tornado'. A commando was killed in the gunbattle and the bodies of five hostages found.

NSG Director General J.K. Dutt told reporters: "Two terrorists were killed during the operation." He said the commandos launched a multi-pronged attack on the terrorists hiding inside the five-storey building - from the terrace and also from the lower floors.

He said commando Havaldar Gajendra Singh was killed in the gunbattle at Nariman House, also known as Chabad House, in Colaba.

"Gajendra Singh came in the line of fire. He received bullet injuries, but did not retreat. He continued going forward, and made the supreme sacrifice," Dutt said.

The commandos had to tread carefully as they had to ensure that the hostages being held by the terrorists as well as the civilians living in the populated area were not injured.

While going to the second floor, the commandos found three bodies there. "They realised that they had been killed by the terrorists much earlier."

Then a hiding terrorist lobbed a grenade at the NSG, but the commandos continued to go forward. On the fourth floor, they killed the two terrorists and found two more bodies. "They were victims of the terrorists," Dutt said.