Nov
29
All news channels were commenting at the start that there are at least 17 to 26 terrorists in all, but at the end of the commando-operation at the Nariman House, Obeori Trident and Taj-Heritage, overall 8 terrorists were reported killed. May be the previous guesses about 17-26 terrorists was a mistake, but it has been established that two of the co-operators of the terrorists are still free roaming on Mumbai roads with little or no chances of any catch-up. Experts say that it would take almost Rs500 crores and a year to restore the Taj-Heritage to its original glory.
And during all this operation almost 195 innocent people were killed in which some were foreigners. But will India stop? Will Mumbai stop?
Amitabh Bachchan quotes his feeling about this pretty clearly at his blog.
“And for God’s sake, let us stop reiterating that clichéd”Sprit of Mumbai” retort. Yes Mumbai is strong and resilient and shall not be cowed down by any such occurrence. But let us not conveniently use it as our cover sheet; pull it over our heads and go off to sleep. Because that is what has been happening every time. Incidents of grave disaster have continued to be camouflaged with ‘oh, this is Mumbai, we have a great spirit, we will spring back’. Fine, we will, of course. But who is assuring us that the disaster will not !!
As an Indian, I need to live in my own land, on my own soil with dignity and without fear. And I need an assurance on that.
I am ashamed to say this and not afraid to share this now with the rest of the cyber world, that last night, as the events of the terror attack unfolded in front of me I did something for the first time and one that I had hoped never ever to be in a situation to do.
Before retiring for the night, I pulled out my licensed .32 revolver, loaded it and put it under my pillow. For a very disturbed sleep.”
Luckily, Amitabh possesses a licensed gun; most of the Indians do not possess any instrument to defend themselves. Although they have got an illusive sense of right to self-defence, or do they don’t have that right?
Everybody is praising the Navy Marcos and NSG Commandos for the safety operation they carried out at Nariman House, Oberoi Trident and Taj-Heritage. Sure they deserves the praise for the pain-staking efforts they put forth to save the innocents against the terrorists. But was the effort efficient enough? So why did it took almost 3 days to end up an attack of 8 people?
And can we ignore the security lapse of whole system? We can say that it was wrong of terrorists to attack the innocent, but what about the wrong of lethargic attitude of the security forces and the government’s unwillingness to safeguard the innocent citizens? Will this attack make them aware of their own faults?
It is so easy for Indians to point against Pakistan, but can we forget that it is more of Indian intelligence fault and breach of security net? Ohh well we pay for our security, we pay taxes. Even we are disallowed to hold guns for our own security and safety, and yet we are not safe.
What will be the aftermath of Mumbai attacks? Will we make a better security net, more efficient, more sensitive? Or will the political parties keep on their dogs-bark, complaining each other for gaining vote banks?
May be Congress will loose some votes during the current going state elections and the upcoming general elections. May be the central government will change. Will that change make any good? I don’t think so.
With Islamist terrorists carrying out the Mumbai-attacks, communal politics could again become an election issue. There could be a backlash against Muslims by radical Hindu groups, and that will increase religious tensions. There have been reports that Hindu radicals have already carried out bombings this year in revenge for suspected Islamist attacks. So the waters are not going to ease down easily.
While whole world is already experiencing the greatest economic downturn since the last seven decades, this terrorist attack will halt and affect Indian economy too.
Cricket matches being denounced, and ICL being postponed, the effects are quite visible. Tourism will slow down for a while, though it will come back. But yes the poor will suffer because of the temporary effect.
Indo-Pak relations will obviously slow-down. Irrespective of Indian intelligence failure, Indian authorities will blame Pakistan majorly in an attempt to ignore the questions arising on government and Indian bureaucratic security systems.
Recently railway ministry was seeking grounds for Private-Public partnership in railways at Mumbai.
Can there be grounds for Public-Private security systems too? That will increase competence, competition and efficiency of the security net.
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1 viewsNo Responses to “Terrorists knocking on Indian doors”
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GP Says:
December 1st, 2008 at 4:26 pmI won’t blame ATS/Mumbai police force/NSG commandoes entirely for rescue operation,given that they lack proper
training on how to handle hostage situation including lack of armery and other respources(AK-47/enough bullet proof jackets)..they did all they could
to rescue innocent ppl trapped inside hotel at the expense of their lives but I guess to avoid that in future
May be govt. can think about
1>Arranging military training sessions for indian army/police force from US Army/LAPD,etc.
2>Total revamp of IB and other defence related port-folios to infuse fresh blood and mind(special preferance should be given to those from Army background)
3>As always strengthening borders especially sea routes.
4>Govt change — > I guess this will definitely happen in next assembly polls and general elections and wish all the best for BJP(not becuase they are not hippocrates/power hungry and non-corrupt but simpley bcoz their past 4 yrs of experience shows they are better than congress in controlling Terrorism)
Unpretentious Diva Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:16 amSo whom will you blame? Those who were killed? Are you out of your minds? Do you even know the meaning of ATS? it is Anti terrorist Squad. If the Anti terrorist Squad was lacking any proper training or planning against the terrorists and the situations possible in a terrorist attack, then who should be?
And whose fault it is that ATS did not have proper arms and protection?
Was there a lack of money? Just four months ago government gave a heavy amount to ATS to reform itself and strengthen the force with latest technologies. ATS and government used that money to increase the protection of politicians and VVIPs and buying exotic cafrs for senior officers of Mumbai police and ATS. Why such wastage of money? Why did not ATS used that money for which it was allotted?
ATS and its officers suffered because of their own corrupt ways.
Indian Military is facing terrorists since last 60 years. Why should ATS take any training from LAPD and why not from Punjab police which succesfully put an end to hardest terrorism possible that is Punjab terrorism? Your first point is worthless.
And how that revamping will be done? by your sweetie talks? the revamp is being done right after each terrorist attack. It never helps.
Third point can be usefull only if the publc and privaqte bodies both involve in developing the coasts and shores first. Without proper infusion of private parties, individuals and public in governmental incentives, the idea of stregnthening coastal guards is not workable. let the Indian coasts be commercialized. And then because of the commercial value of the coasts, not only government but private bodies will force the beuareucratic security systems to improve their services competitively, otherwise the private bodies will feel incentive to develop their own private security systems.
BJP government faced kandhar and indian parliament terrorist attacks, it is in noway better than congress. But anyways who cares what party makes government. until the Individual citizens of India won’t feel stregth enough to accept their own responsibility for their own safety and development, neither the individual will develop nor the community and nor will be the country.
GP Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:34 pmSo whom will you blame? Those who were killed? Are you out of your minds? Do you even know the meaning of ATS? it is Anti terrorist Squad. If the Anti terrorist Squad was lacking any proper training or planning against the terrorists and the situations possible in a terrorist attack, then who should be?
<<<<<I will blame entirely - those corrupt officials and politicians who swallowed all that money which was alloted for
restructuring of ATS.[[sadly i can’t prove it :( ]]. I will blame all those senior ATS officials who did not take into account
previous blasts and shown their utmost interest in targeting Sadhvi P. Singh and other Hindu hardliners to appease congress govt.>>
Indian Military is facing terrorists since last 60 years. Why should ATS take any training from LAPD and why not from Punjab police which succesfully put an end to hardest terrorism possible that is Punjab terrorism?
<<<With all due respect…1> I don’t think Punjab police is preety much aware of how to handle hostage situation just like any other state’s police force in india
2>We should accept prowess of US military and LAPD/SWAT(as you mentioned) in dealing with crimes and hostage situation with modern combat techiniques and advanced weapons. Not to mention there is no
single terrorist activity after 9/11 in US. So its fair enough to be trained from THE BEST instead of going by our age old metality of cost saving and trying to find DESI/domestic solution to address the problem.>>
And how that revamping will be done? by your sweetie talks? the revamp is being done right after each terrorist attack. It never helps.
<< Definately by actions and not by sweet talks and I guess govt. already started that by firing Home Minister and Mr. Narayanan…but surely this will mtake some time(considering usual snail paced beaurocratic system)>>
let the Indian coasts be commercialized.
<< Then how about commercialising INDIAN ARMY then?….think about cons first! coz commercialisation won’t be universal solution to all problems.
not to mention risk of becoming target again - if commercialised body compromised border security for momentary gains>>>
Unpretentious Diva Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 pmSo now you are ready to blame the culprits. Yet, you won’t blame them for their inefficiency and lack of p-lanning and training.
How many terrorist attacks America faced? Only One. 9/11. That also 8 years ago.
How many terrorist and Naxalite attacks India faced during the last 4 years? Almost 54.
How can any agency of America be more experienced about terrorist attacks and hostage rescue plans?
it is not about Punjab Police force, it is about the force which has met the situation many times. it is about EXPERIENCE. LAPD or FBI or swat has no experience about a terrorist attack if compared to any indian state police and it is a fact. About technologies, Not only Indian technologists are able to improve and develop much better technologies than the western have, but also, India has full freedom to take any technological help from anybody outside India if it feels good.
But for all that, commercialization and proper induction of private funding in security services is necessary. Government PSU’s seldom provides any competition and progress because of their unquestionable monopoly which is a dark zone and can provide corruption alone.
Changing faces doesnot mean a change in system. The officials leading the failed government institutes are untouched even now. Home Minister or any Minister becomes instantaneous target against the angry public, but they are not the actual responsible person. A home minister, or a new home minister or a NO HOME MINISTER, if system is corrupt lazy and inefficient, home minister can do nothing.
So you mean that there are possibilities that Ratan Tata planned an attack on his own Hotel because it was a comercial institute and he might have earned by destroying the Taj?
Why will a person destroy his own property by which he is earning his living?
And if the coasts are commercilaized, and lets say a part of the coast is used by some unsocial element with the help of the owner of that part of coast, won’t he be answerable for the aftermaths of that corruption won’t he be punished by common rational laws of property?
I can do anything at my house, it is my property, but if anyhow my any act causes a disturbance or threat to the the neighbor and my any act compounds to the breach of his property and individual rights, then I am rationally bound to be punished by property laws and human rights.
Commercialization is proper and best way of providing responsible security which even if failed, can be properly questioned and rationally punished.
Commercialization will surely provide a way to counter attack any criminal activity including terrorism.
Furthermore, if commercialized, the public-private groups will provide not only immense opportunities of Job Creation, it will develop technologies regarding securities and technological advancements, it will counter the water scarcity and fresh proper environmental concerns will also be eliminated as pollution will decrease alot and the public-private owners will be honestly caring their security concerns too which ultimately will compound to the national security.
And it is nothing new, commercilization of lakes, rivers and sea shores is well established idea in developed countries to ensure safety and progress.
GP Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pmit is about EXPERIENCE. LAPD or FBI or swat has no experience about a terrorist attack if compared to any indian state police and it is a fact
About technologies, Not only Indian technologists are able to improve and develop much better technologies than the western have, but also, India has full freedom to take any technological help from anybody outside India if it feels good.
So you mean that there are possibilities that Ratan Tata planned an attack on his own Hotel because it was a comercial institute and he might have earned by destroying the Taj?
Commercialization is proper and best way of providing responsible security which even if failed, can be properly questioned and rationally punished.
Commercialization will surely provide a way to counter attack any criminal activity including terrorism.
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