Seven years after bloodbath

29/11/2015

As yet another anniversary of the horrific 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai passed by, and the nation mourned the innocents who lost their lives and paid homage to the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, it is imperative to take stock of the security situation and ask the tough questions: Seven years after that bloodbath, are we better prepared to pre-empt a similar attack or respond more effectively in the event of a repeat? This question gains even more importance after the terror strike in Paris earlier this month that followed the same template as the 2008 incident in Mumbai. Most security experts agree that the modus operandi for this kind of an attack wherein multiple terrorists come in and swarm across the city, causing large-scale damage in a short period before they are taken down by law enforcement agencies inspired by the 1975 Savoy Hotel attack in Tel Aviv, was first tested in Mumbai seven years ago, and then fine-tuned to perfection in Paris this year. Paris is an ugly reminder that, though there has been relative calm in Mumbai and much of India in these past years, one cannot afford to let one’s guard down.
Though there is a public perception that nothing of significance has been done to beef up security after 26/11, that's not entirely true. A few important steps have been taken to improve counter-terrorism and rapid response efforts. For example, the National Investigation Agency was set up soon after the attack, as a central agency mandated to deal with terrorism across the country. Mumbai Police has created a new marine branch and Maharashtra Police has raised Force One, an elite commando force, specifically trained to protect the Mumbai metropolitan area. Other plans and projects, initiated after 26/11, are also making progress, even if at a glacial speed. The National Intelligence Grid, which brings together databases from across the country, is back on the Government's priority list, while the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems is being fast-tracked.
That said, there are still many areas that require urgent attention. For example, seven years after 26/11 when terrorists mounted a sea-borne attack on Mumbai, coastal security is yet to be been ramped up. Four semi-permanent security shacks have been set up along the Mumbai coast but the proposal to set up proper police stations is still under consideration. Those who man these outposts and make up the first line of defence, are ill-equipped. There is hardly any station infrastructure either. There are no bullet proof jackets or night-time surveillance glasses for policemen, and the promise of thousands of CCTV cameras going up across the city is yet to be fulfilled. Worse still, the constabulary force the most important element given the kind of terror attacks we face today remains ill-prepared. It will not only have a hard time rising to the occasion during an attack but will also find it difficult to pre-empt one.

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