Survivor: My name might have saved me

Mumbai: Survivors say terrorists may have spared their lives after learning they had Muslim names.

One survivor at the Taj who would only give his name as Aziz for reasons of "not hurting the sentiments of non-Muslim victims", said the terrorist asked his name and then let him go.

"They asked me my name and I think, they spared me because I am a Muslim," said Aziz, a Colaba resident.

The 34-year old businessman said he felt sad that these people were killing innocents in the name of religion.

"I am happy that I am saved. But I hate the reason why they killed others," said Aziz.

He said the gunmen repeatedly shot at victims who were writhing in pools of blood to make sure that they were dead.

Basheer, a vendor outside the Leopold café, said the two terrorists who threw grenades and opened fire at the café had asked him his name as they pointed their guns at him.

"I did not understand what they asked at first. When they asked for a second time, I could not utter a word out of fear. But I managed to say my name and the gunman said 'Chodo' (leave) and started firing at the café. I ran across the road to safety," said Basheer, who is from Kerala.