Bomb Blasts Failure of security

Checking preparedness: CISF personnel during a mock drill of terrorist attack at Rajiv Chowk metro station in New Delhi

Despite claims of breakthroughs and arrests in the recent past, especially in Gujarat and Mumbai, it is apparent that the Indian security networks have failed in detecting and preventing terror attacks.

Although security agencies claim the situation would be much worse were it not for their preventive vigil and crackdowns, their comments do not inspire much public confidence.

Officials also privately admit that the entire security apparatus is geared towards protecting important people such as politicians and their families, leaving little manpower and money for ground-level security and counter-terrorism exercises.

Even if police do manage to arrest the suspects, would the attacks stop? It appears unlikely, and there is even an air of helplessness among those who are supposed to protect citizens. This was reflected in a security review chaired by federal Home Minister Shivraj Patil following the Delhi blasts.

Intelligence Bureau chief P C Haldar is reported to have said that it was difficult to track every terror module of the IM, which has enrolled people from many cities in India. Haldar is reported to have admitted that the hierarchy and structure of the IM are still hazy.

Earlier, in a more damning self-indictment, National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan, who reports to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly, blamed the intelligence agencies that he ironically leads, for not providing "actionable intelligence" on attacks.

The NSA reportedly told the cabinet that there was no warning about the attack on Jaipur in May. "There is no proper coordination between the state intelligence- gathering machinery and the Federal Intelligence Bureau [IB - that looks at internal security matters]. The inputs provided by the IB are imprecise."

Yet, the security agencies cannot be blamed in isolation of the political leaders, who are engaged in another round of brinkmanship, instead of giving serious thought to revamping the security apparatus.

The problem is beyond just laws. The preventive mechanism is woefully inadequate and India's lax security structure has become a fertile ground for terror groups to gain cheap global publicity via easy-to-execute attacks, without incurring much expenditures or risk of lives to their cadres.

Siddharth Srivastava
New Delhi based journalist.
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Explosions at India’s Capital

Photos: VV Krishnan, AP, AFP
NEW DELHI — The Indian capital was rocked by terrorist attacks on Saturday as a series of synchronized explosions hit five crowded markets and thoroughfares, including Connaught Place, a tourist destination in the heart of the city.

Shivraj Patil, India’s home minister, said 18 people had been killed. Scores were wounded — in one hospital alone, more than 50 casualties were wheeled in within two hours of the blasts. The police and government officials called for calm, and the streets of the capital turned quiet Saturday night.
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Lack of Emergency Drills in the Cities

Mock Emergency Drill: Starts from School
Precious lives can be saved if timely help can be rendered to the injured and wounded in an emergency. Do the city officials have emergency drills worked out? Are citizens warned and trained for emergency situations? Do we have a traffic control system, instead of clogging all roads and citizens running helter skelter as seen (TV broadcasts) in the recent Bomb Blasts? We need emergency drills and periodically practised/ rehearsed to ensure lives are not lost due to lack of mobilising our skills and resources at the right time to reduce the impact. Do the Intelligence agencies possess the "Threat Perception Level" state wise? How is information shared with the citizens and local state police? What are the response systems brought to action during emergency? Are we groping in the dark? Shouldn't the Intelligence Agencies be made accountable for internal security of the Nation as well? Should the nation accept failures?

The law and order situation needs to be drastically improved to defeat miscreants and terrorist activities. Rampant illegal parking of cyclists, motorcyclists, four wheelers and other vehicles near crowded areas in the cities is the root cause for easy positioning of bombs to cause loss of precious lives and material damages. Over crowded buses is yet another easy target.

The Police and Citizens need to evolve a better communication system so that any suspicious activity reported is quickly investigated and culprits apprehended. It is the duty of every citizen to be vigilant, disciplined and proactive in pinning down the terrorists before they strike.
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Disparity and Despair: Kabul Bomb Blast

Letter Addressed to Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister Shri AK Anthony)
My Dear Sir,

1. It was indeed a noble gesture by the PM. As per news paper reports, the PM was so impressed by the devotion to duty of late Mr Rao, the IFS officer who died in the Kabul bomb blast, that he announced several benefits for his next of kin. These include, full salary and government accommodation till the officer would have retired in 2023. It is undisputable that every possible succour must be provided to the bereaved family under such circumstances. Yet, without prejudice to this thought or to the sacred memory of the deceased, certain politically incorrect questions arise?

2. What separates the case of Mr Rao from that of Brig RD Mehta, or for that matter Col V Vasanth and scores of other army personnel who lay down their lives in the line of duty, actively combating terrorism almost every day? Why has no one ever thought of such benefits for their families? Is there any doubt about their devotion to duty? Are their lives any less precious to their families, or to the nation? Or is it 'no big deal' because it is part of the professional hazards for services personnel, to lay down their lives? The violent death of a diplomat or bureaucrat, on the other hand , is a rare occurrence thus evoking greater sympathy?

3. All along, we are being told that that the armed forces are supposed to be at par with other services when it comes to fixing pay and allowances. This is the standard argument forwarded ,for denying a separate pay commission for the Armed Forces. By the same logic, the death benefits for other services should be the same as those applicable to the armed forces. The reason for these double standards is therefore hard to fathom. Irrespective of the reasons or sentiments behind such random acts of kindness, it must be understood that it undermines the supreme sacrifice made by others, and is liable to affect the morale of their comrades.

4.It is time that the government decided once and for all whether the armed forces are at par with other central services or not, and act responsibly rather than arbitrarily.

Brigadier PT Gangadharan (Guards) Retd
Manmohan Singh visits families of Kabul blast victims