Governments around the world, including our own, are certain to be treating the Sydney chocolate cafe hostage crisis — ongoing for nearly 13 hours at the time of writing — with deep concern, and preparing themselves in all ways they can to meet such a threat. There can be little doubt that this is a serious terrorist incident. An Indian, who works for Infosys in Australia, is believed to be among the dozen or so hostages. This makes it obligatory for us to remain in touch with the Australian authorities.
Perhaps our security agencies could, without losing time, do mock training sessions at the earliest in order to be on the ball if trouble strikes. The first thing to avoid is a loss of time, as had been the case with 26/11 in Mumbai back in 2008. India could also seek to coordinate with various countries to work on a possible data-base of their nationals who might be working with the Islamic State (Daesh), either in the Iraq-Syria theatre, or right here within the country, as we saw in the recent case of the Daesh propagandist working out of Bengaluru even as he worked at the offices of a reputed Indian multinational..
It is known that some 200 Australian citizens have flown to West Asia to join Daesh. But it is not known how many Indians of the same category exist. There is some speculation about it, but no firm understanding. Finding out is certain to be slow, assiduous work. In doing so, the police and the security agencies should be doubly cautious to be sensitive to the apprehensions of the Muslim community, and in no way should be seen as hounding innocents, as has often been the complaint in the past from across the country, in terrorism-related matters.
Fortunately there have been no casualties in Sydney as we write, and we hope the hostages return home safely. The Australian government of Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been extremely prudent while negotiating with the lone hostage-taker who, news reports suggest, is Australian. There has been some suggestion that this is a lone-wolf attack, with an individual influenced by Islamist propaganda through social media going solo. This is probable, but other possibilities like sleeper cells, which suggest organised effort, should also be kept in view. In India, there is no need for us to panic. We just need to be thorough.
