Terror in Mumbai

Analysis and Lessons Learnt

The smoke has cleared and the dust settled in South Mumbai. The authorities have announced that Mumbai is safe. For the sake of Mumbaiwasis we hope and wish they are right.

As long as nothing happens we are safe. Aren't we? Forget about the terrorists who have got away! As long as they just hide they are no threat!

There can be no doubt that Mumbai would have plenty of them and many supporters even today. Being human I am sure they will give time to the police to recover before striking again (just to be fair). Strike they will; and not only in Mumbai. When and where? No worry because such decisions are taken outside the Country, in any case.

Will the Govt hold the Heads of Intelligence agencies accountable for their failures? No! Because they are doing a good job collecting intelligence of politicians. And, of course, the Maharashtra Police will be felicitated for keeping the civilians out of range of the terrorists weapons during the battle. What else is the Police supposed to do? When the top officers have been killed in an ambush, there won't be any difficult questions. The DGP is too close to the CM. Don't bother about his responsibility!

Will anyone remember that the NSG was called as soon as the strike occurred? The Home Minister announced it to one and all! Giving even the number being sent! Why did the ATS not deal with terrorists initially till they felt it was beyond their control? The same question for the naval commandos. No one would dream of doubting the courage of the Naval Commandos or the Mumbai Police. But there has been no casualty of Police or the Naval commandos in actual encounter. When the chips are down why do all the agencies with fancy names back out and the Army is called in whether donning NSG uniforms or their own? Will their reaction not be noted by our enemies?

I hope authorities and the civilians will differentiate between the two brave army men killed in action and the policemen who died as a result of terrorist action. It will be an insult to our brave Army men to equate them.

I wonder how many personnel of the NSG deployed were from the Army. How is it that there are no casualties of the other agencies? If the police don't even attempt to take on the terrorists when the encounters start how do they conduct so many encounters on their own? And related question how safe is Mumbai in their hands? There is no need to comment. Facts reveal it all. The need for greater professionalism has never been higher. Is there a need for them to bother when the Army is always there at their beck and call?

Now we hear of an NSG like organisation for Maharashtra! Why can't present organisations be more professional? Organisations are effective because of the professionalism of their leaders and the men, their traditions established over long periods; not only with sophisticated equipment. What prevents the ATS of Mumbai to be more professional?

Surprisingly the people who feel that Mumbai belongs to them have been mum during the crisis. But their attitude can be understood because these terrorists were neither from Bihar, North or the South. Foreign terrorists are not on their hit lists. These parochial organisations have good organisations but to expect to exploit the organisations to collect intelligence of foreign terrorists would be optimistic. There is no threat to the Marathas and while gaining intelligence against them maybe in National interest, but will not help them politically. So what decision do you expect? Neighbouring politicians have enough tax payers money to donate to derive full political mileage. If they don't do this they won't be politicians. If this money was used within the State sensibly a lot would be gained even to just gain intelligence of terrorists.

As far as the Army is concerned, we remain proud of our colleagues and so are the people of India, no matter how much our status is lowered by petty politicians (mistake to call them leaders). Let us just do our duty to retain the respect in the heart of the common man, which no politician or bureaucrat can lower!

Jai Hind
Lt Gen KK Khanna
Former Commandant IMA