The chairman of a private bank who was taken hostage by terrorists at Hotel Taj during the November 26 siege on Thursday told the special court that his captors whipped and interrogated him.

They (terrorists) asked me whether I was an architect or a scientist, but I told them I was a teacher..." the banker, whose name was withheld, said.

"Hearing this, one of the terrorists, who was speaking on mobile, told the person at the other end that I was a teacher.

... After some time he got angry and said to me: how can a teacher with salary of Rs 25,000 stay at Taj?

"They whipped me." When asked whipped with what, he said, it seemed to be a rope. "I could not do anything as I was lying on the ground face down," the banker-witness said.

This witness is first of the hostages at Hotel Taj to depose before special court trying terrorist Ajmal Kasab and two others.

Before the terrorists entered room no. 632 where he was staying, he had been alerted by the hotel reception about "emergency". He also saw report of terrorist attack on television.

So when around 11 at night he heard knocks on the door, with words "room service", he did not open.

"Suddenly I heard gunshots outside the door, and the door was flung open. Two gentlemen came in. One of them held a gun to my head while other struck a blow to my neck," he said.

Then the banker was taken outside and was made to knock on the doors of adjoining rooms. He followed instructions but there was no response.

... contd.