Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had offered to resign in the wake of the deadly Mumbai terror attacks. Speaking to the media, he said, "In the Congress Working Committee meeting day before yesterday, I offered to resign. The party high command has not taken any decision on this so far but whatever they decide I will accept."

Maharastra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who was in the controversy in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, resigned on Monday.

"I have submitted my resignation letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. I have gone by my conscience and decided to take this step," Patil said on Monday.

"I pondered over the issue the whole night yesterday. Finally, I have decided to quit as per my conscience," Patil said.

Mumbai, Nov 29 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Saturday announced Rs. 25 lakh each for the families of the martyred police officers.

Addressing a press conference here today, Deshmukh said that the state government would form a force similar to the National Security Guard (NSG).

“The past few days have been very difficult but we want to reiterate that we are not scared of the terrorists. The families of the security officials who lost their lives while fighting the terrorists will be given a compensation amount of Rs. 25 lakh,” Deshmukh told reporters.

Mumbai, Nov. 29 : Australian citizen Garrick Harvison has spoken of his terrifying experience in the ordeal in Mumbai, which has claimed at least 183 lives. Two Australians are confirmed dead and another 37 are still missing, reports say.

In the days after the initial attacks, Harvison said he had been told that terrorists posing as hotel security were calling the rooms of Westerners, luring them out of their rooms to their deaths.

Harvison was speaking to a friend in Australia on his mobile phone when the room phone rang.

Mumbai, Nov 28 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R. R. Patil on Friday admitted laxity in coastal security in the state.

Patil said that the coastal security would be tightened in the wake of the atrocious attacks and another force on the lines of National Security Guard (NSG) would be formed.

New Delhi, Nov 26 : Hindu seers led by senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia staged a silent protest in New Delhi on Wednesday, to show solidarity with Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, one of the accused in the Malegoan blasts case.

Earlier this month, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Maharashtra detained Thakur, Dayanand Pandey and Lietenant Colonel Purohit, all belonging to Hindu community, in connection with the Malegaon blasts case.

Togadia described the Malegaon probe as a conspiracy by the government to protect the extremists.