Is raising new NSG- like units the solution?
The ineffectiveness of the police will soon help them to gain more high rank appointments for the IPS. The plan to raise more NSG type units to place them at four metros would relieve the state police of all responsibility.
Though Mumbai Police has an ATS we are told this is only for investigation after strikes. Yet we are told there are many encounter specialists in the org. For what? When the terrorists struck where were these encounter specialists, other than those killed in an ambush? Not even one came forward to battle the terrorists. There was not a single casualty of the ATS in any encounter or battle. Great!! Must be due to tricks picked up from Bollywood! Only catch is that they did not neutralise even a single terrorist and just waited for help.
Next we have the Marcos. Sad to say but their performance was no better than the Police. And if they are not trained for such jobs why did they deploy? To exhibit their ineffectiveness? Not being familiar with the Taj is no excuse. Were the NSG cdos familiar with Taj or Nariman House?
It is time introspect critically and increase the level of training and professionalism once we have decided to raise a force.
It must be realised that NSG or any other Cdo force can only react. The ideal organisation is where the Intelligence and Ops are integrated under one cdr. Since only four metros are not going to be threatened (See history of terrorist strikes) what will be the arrangement for the remaining country? Terrorist strike planners take time to identify weaknesses and strike only when they realise the protective measures are cosmetic and the reactions likely to be lethargic. There is no record of terrorist strikes on alert troops, in India, so far. In this I do not include strikes for assassination of specific targets. In the West, of course, there have been suicide attacks but again they were confident of getting through the protective perimeter to drive their explosive loaded trucks to the desired point. While it is true that determined terrorists can strike any target, the fact is why should they strike alert targets when there are plenty of unprotected ones? In India every other place is vulnerable barring a few VIPs.
Also it is important to note that presence of NSG cannot prevent terrorist attacks. Delhi has been hit any number of times with the complete NSG nearby. What is important is Intelligence and prevention. Had the NSG reached in, say two hrs what would have been the number of casualties? In all attacks maximum casualties take place in the first half hour.
Terrorists always strike the undefended, weakest targets killing unarmed innocent, civilians whereas the Insurgents strike the strength of the state such as police stations, Army posts, convoys etc and protect the unarmed civilians. We must understand the difference. The terrorists would never have opened fire on the ATS car in Mumbai if there was the slightest chance of retaliation.
What is the answer?
States must remain responsible to deal with terrorism. What is the difficulty in training existing police offrs and men to form (NSG like) units in their states? The Police have their Intelligence. In addition each district, each Police station must be responsible to gain its own Intelligence in its area of responsibility. If need be another police offr can be posted to each district, under the SSP for this task. The existing Intelligence setups may continue to please the political masters, as hither to fore.
The high level training needs to be given to only about a company worth of commandos in each state to be increased, if required. But it can be called a commando unit of the police. Though 200 NSG personnel came to Mumbai, we saw that very few were actually used. Even with 500% reserve we don't need too many commandos. These must be the elite not used for protection of VIPs. Black colour uniformed personnel must never be used for VIP protection. They must only be used to deal with terrorists.
The Army can help in imparting training. We also have enough reserves of personnel who have served in NSG and returned to units. Some can be absorbed in state police forces, if the Army agrees to release them.
I do wish, in the interest of our countrymen, that the authorities analyse the problem before taking the usual Home Ministry action of raising a new force after every crisis. Unfortunately their advisors are the DGs of CPOs who have no experience of handling any crisis. If any of you can do something about it, do it.
Lt Gen KK Khanna
Former Commandant IMA
Showing posts with label ATS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ATS. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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
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
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Army storms Mumbai's besieged five-star hotels
Indian army arrives outside the trident hotel for rescue operations , in Mumbai , India, early 27 November 2008. At least 80 people were feared killed in a series of shootings and explosions by suspected terrorists late Wednesday in Mumbai, India's financial hub, police and news reports said. Police confirmed there had been several attacks by heavily armed gunmen. The Oberoi Trident and Taj hotels were among areas affected, as were cinema halls, a hospital, and Mumbai's main railway terminus. EPA/STRMore Photos: "Attacks in India"
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Mumbai: Indian Army personnel early Thursday stormed the two besieged five-star hotels in Mumbai to nab terrorists who had left at least 78 dead hours earlier and to free a number of people including foreign tourists held captive there, officials said.
Mumbai's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team was already at the Hotel Taj Intercontinental where the holed-up terrorists hurled a grenade towards advancing army troopers, the police officials said. They said nine suspected terrorists were caught and two killed in shootouts following the yet another series of planned and synchronised attacks in the heart of India's financial capital around midnight Wednesday.
Exchange of fire “is on between police and terrorists at Taj and Trident. Our people have surrounded them and the ATS team has arrived at the Taj hotel," said A.N. Roy, Maharashtra director general of police.
Source: Indo-Asian News Service
Army storms Mumbai's besieged five-star hotels
At least 82 dead in India Terror Attacks
AT least 101 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen in Mumbai, police said.
"At least six foreigners have been killed and the death figure has gone up to 101 now," Ramesh Tayde, a senior police officer told Reuters from Mumbai's control room.
"We have a figure of 287 people injured."
Scores of tourists remained trapped in the Taj Mahal hotel, a 105-year-old city landmark, and the five-star Trident Oberoi in Mumbai's downtown peninsula, its financial and tourist heart.
Small groups of militants armed with automatic weapons and grenades burst into luxury hotels, a hospital and a railway station late yesterday, as well as an iconic cafe popular with foreign tourists, firing indiscriminately and tossing grenades. They appeared to target British and Americans as they sought hostages before settling in for a prolonged siege.
Six foreigners among 101 dead in Mumbai- police
Four top officers among 10 policemen killed in Mumbai
Mumbai Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare was among the dead. Two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, additional police commissioners Ashok Kamte and Sadanand Date, were killed in separate gun battles with terrorists, the authorities said.
Mumbai Police "encounter specialist" Vijay Salaskar were also shot dead in another gun battle.Karkare was heading investigations into several recent cases of terrorist attacks here. There were six other police officials among the at least 80 killed in the coordinated terror attacks late Wednesday night
Four top officers among 10 policemen killed in Mumbai- Xinhua
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Mumbai under siege: Complete Sequence
13.26: Militants holed up in top three floors of Trident
13.10: Trident under siege: Loud explosion heard now
12.50: Trident under siege, over 30 trapped inside
12.40 pm: One terrorist holed up in Nariman house killed
12.30 pm: 7 Britons injured in Mumbai terror attack
12.30 pm: Defence Minister AK Antony calls for Armed forces meet
11.59: Navy, Army take control at Oberoi Hotel
11.52: England Tour called off, team to return. T20 Cup doubtful
11.50: No ransom demands made so far says Govt
11.48: Mumbai places scanning city for RDX
11.35: Satellite link to Taj Hotel snapped
11.30: 15 hostages held inside Taj Hotel
11.25: French physicist among those held hostage
US Intelligence officials among those killed at Taj
Terror attack planned by Lashkar
Israel concerned, scans hospitals for missing nationals
Flights from Mumbai running on schedule
Terrorists took sea route to enter Mumbai
Mumbai under seige
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
