A goof-up late Wednesday night by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and the airing of live footage by television channels on Thursday compromised rescue operations at the Trident and Taj hotels in Mumbai by giving terrorists prior information, security forces have said.

The Army and the National Security Guards (NSG), which started search and rescue operations early on Thursday, are fuming over a statement by the Home Minister on Wednesday night that revealed that 200 commandoes are leaving for Mumbai from the capital.

The live coverage of the operation by television channels was curtailed after objections by the armed forces that it was hampering operations. The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) issued an advisory for ‘self-regulation’ and ‘self-restraint’ in coverage to enable smooth functioning of security agencies and safety of those caught in the terror attacks.

The Home Minister, who was talking to television channels, drew flak after he said that the team of NSG commandoes would leave for operations in Mumbai and even revealed the exact time of departure from Delhi, compromising, security forces say, the surprise element in the planned assault.

“It is difficult to believe that the minister did not know that the size and time of arrival of an assault team should never be revealed. Such a disclosure has compromised the security of the operation,” a senior officer said, adding that live coverage by television channels was giving terrorists holed up inside the buildings specific inputs about the assault and movement of security personnel.

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