Karnataka

Udupi man killed in attack on Taj hotel in Mumbai

Valerian Martis, father of Paustine Martis, at Kattingeri village near Moodubelle in Udupi district on Friday.

Kattingeri (Udupi district): A pall of gloom descended on the house of Valerian Martis here (at Kattingeri coming under Moodubelle gram panchayat, about 17 km from Udupi) on Friday. His eldest son, Paustine Martis (48), who was working as restaurant manager at Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai was killed in the terrorist attack. The family members received the news of Paustine’s death at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

A grieving Mr. Valerian Martis said on Friday that Paustine had been staying at Thane, near Mumbai. He was working at the Taj for over 20 years. Paustine was married to Priscilla.

They have a daughter Priya and son Floyd. Priya was also working within the Taj Hotel premises, while Floyd was a student of Class X.

Paustine had done his diploma in hotel management at the Hotel Valley View International in Manipal, he said. Paustine’s uncle David Martis said that Paustine had visited his parents Valerian and Alice about one and a half years ago. He was expected in May 2009, when Valerian and Alice had planned to celebrate their wedding anniversary. “According to the information we received, Paustine was killed when he went to see his daughter Priya who was working in the Taj Hotel premises during the terrorist attack. He is said to have been hit by a bullet,” he said. Family members said that Priya was now at home in Thane. Paustine’s another uncle Phillip Alva said: “Our entire family is deeply shocked at Paustine’s death. We do not want too much media attention.”

Member of Belle Gram Panchayat Devadas Hebbar, who was present at the house of Valerian Martis, said that he had known the family for a long time. “I share the grief of the family. I can only pray God to give them strength to bear the loss. I knew Paustine. He was a very nice person. Words fall short to condemn the dastardly terrorist attack in Mumbai,” he said. Family members said that they would be leaving for Mumbai on Friday afternoon. The funeral of Paustine would be held in Mumbai on Sunday. Mr. Valerian Martis is an agriculturist. His two other sons are working abroad.

Just a yard away, Joachim Lobo’s family were thanking God for being kind to have saved their son Dolphi Lobo, who has been working as a steward at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai for the last three years.

Mr. Joachim Lobo said: “Dolphi called on Thursday and Friday to say he is fine.” Dolphi’s elder brother Melivin Lobo said: “We are happy that he is alive.” But the family members said they were shocked over their neighbour Paustine Martis’s death.

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