Are we geared to tackle another terror attack?

The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks were unlike what our police has ever faced. Similar to a well-planned military operation, with obvious support from outside, the 72-hour-long attacks were carried out by highly-motivated terrorists. These attacks, we are told, may not be the last. What does that mean for the people of Mumbai, and India?

Mumbai has a work culture and attitude to life that is exceptional in India. It’s people spend most of their time and energy in creating wealth. That is, perhaps, why they have no time for discussions on terrorism and terrorist attacks. They believe that the government is responsible for their safety and well-being and will take care of it. Though they are not wrong, we must review if our government is equipped, and has adequate tools at its disposal, to face such attacks.

The high-level enquiry committee (HLEC) appointed to probe the 26/11 attacks was a challenge because both V. Balachandran, former special secretary, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and I have been closely associated with the police.

The HLEC report remains classified. The state government found it inconvenient to make it public. This was surprising as we strictly observed our terms of reference: we looked into systemic failures rather than failures of individuals.

Though we were conscious that police’s effectiveness depends on the means and equipment made available to them — funds for acquiring equipment, raising and training manpower, providing infrastructure and organisational structures — we found plenty of systemic failures, both at the field level and command level in the police administration, and in working within the state government headquarters. We suggested measures to strengthen the system’s ability to face any attack in the future.

Our police officers’ level of motivation and their will to face death was exhibited by anti-terror squad chief Hemant Karkare, additional commissioner of Mumbai Police, Ashok Kamte, senior police inspector and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, inspector Shashank Shinde and head constable Tukaram Ombale. There were countless others. We have recounted their role in the report. If we have to fight such attacks, we must recognise the sacrifices and valour of our martyrs.

Today, knowing what is happening in Pakistan, one can imagine the horror that may visit our cities. Fortunately, we have in Mr P. Chidambaram a home minister who knows the value of “system improvement”. He has offered the support and funding necessary to fight terrorism. Our police forces must at least be able to quickly react to attacks and engage in a holding operation till paramilitary forces or specialised forces like the National Security Guards (NSG) arrive.

In the Mumbai terror attacks, the response from young police officers was mostly spontaneous. But there was absence of visible command and control at the top — this led to rumours and wasteful deployment of striking manpower.

It is heartening that the Maharashtra state government has raised Force-I and set up a centre of NSG in Mumbai. Whenever the government tables its action taken report, it should also present its “action to be taken” agenda as that is of greater and direct relevance to the civil society.

Everyone imagines that the next attack may again be on Mumbai. What if it is on sensitive targets outside Mumbai? Last attacks were concentrated in a limited area. What if the next one is on targets spread over two-three administrative areas? How are the security forces to respond against simultaneous attacks? Who will direct the overall operations? These are serious matters that should not be ignored.

It ought to be noted that the HLEC was under the constraints of terms of reference and time. We would have liked to look into the role of other agencies and organisations as well. For example: the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, especially security of water supply to the city; the fire brigade services which seemed to lack proper equipment; the hospital services and their readiness to respond to such emergencies.

I am mentioning this to emphasise that the HLEC report is not the last word. It should be viewed as the beginning of a process.

On the role of the civil society, there should be no hesitation to accept their help to look into non-police matters and to help and assist families of persons who have been killed or injured. There should be recognition of the fact that terrorism cannot be fought by the police alone.