INDIA CAUGHT WITH PANTS DOWN

INDIA CAUGHT WITH PANTS DOWN

Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao (Retd)

The recent bomb blasts in Bombay ( Mumbai) and the attacks on five star hotels is the glaring example of utter negligence on the part of Indian security agencies and state and central government (1). The terrorists who came well prepared with arms, ammunition and logistics played havoc in the city and mocked at the Indian security. It is Ok they were killed and it was inevitable with such large army, police and NSG troops out- numbering them and wiping them out. Yet some escaped. They were prepared for death not before causing major embarrassment to all. They have achieved their aim and at the same time exposing the utter failure of the government in foreseeing the tragedy and preventing than pumping scores of troops and bull dozing their way in. People of India have lost confidence in the rulers in their ability to deal with terrorism. The important questions that arise are (2):

Why the attack was not foreseen?
How intelligence has failed?
Was their any mole in the system of security and intelligence?
Why attack through sea was not foreseen?
How police officers could be killed in the car even without drawing their pistols?;
Why police officers are not properly armed while the terrorists are well armed?
With Bombay projected as major target ,why sufficient security measures were not taken for protecting the city?
Does Bombay police believe that terrorism can be fought in Amitab bachhhan way where he would kill all thugs single handed jumping from top floor all the way down 50 floors with a 0.32 pistol revolver or 9 mm HP Browning without reloading?
Was it possible to save the lives of victims in hotels?
These questions would never be answered fully in days to come. As usual, the Prime Minister came on to the TV screen and assured in his meek and un assuring voice that such actions would never be tolerated and terrorists would be dealt severely. Any one who listened to him probably would not have been assured that India would be able to prevent such calamities in future. Every one knows fully well that nothing would happen in this direction and soon it would be forgotten. At best, some heads would roll. True. Heads rolled as expected. Shiv raj Patil the home minister who is always trimly dressed gave in and was forced to resign. As per the usual gimmick, he stated that he resigned assuming the moral responsibility for failure in preventing the attack. Lalu Prasad Yadav the railway minister who was bitter with the home minister earlier did not resign when train accidents took place many times earlier. He thought there was no moral responsibility when it came to him. But he was more vocal in the case of the Home minister. Any how, Patil was got rid off (3). Better riddance for all as nation felt. He will have ample time for grooming his hair and changing suits one after other in days to come Mr Vilas Rao Deshmukh, the chief Minister of Maharashtra State and few smaller heads also rolled (4). The question is How Chidambaram would make any difference to the present situation? What we need is people like Gill the former chief of Punjab Police who rubbed off Khalistan terrorists in India. The truth is that finally it would be old wine in new bottle. Game would be same. The top security advisers and chiefs of intelligence agencies continue. The glaring question remains how such large scale conspiracy could not be prevented. India beats its chest for various achievements such as moon voyage an other things, but when it comes to own security cuts a sorry face. With induction of Chidambaram it would be seen that only players would change. Time would reveal its ugly face.
It is not individual efficiency that is lacking in tackling the problem. It is the direction as policy from the Government that has let down the congress ruled state government and caught it with pants down. The government has no fixed policy to be precise in dealing with terrorism. It is very casual in approach and slack in actions and very loose in meting out justice to the offenders. The trials for the offenders of terrorism in India take decades. The recent judgment in Karnataka for Deen Dar Anjuman outfit members took such a great time in passing the sentence of death on some of the thugs. The question is now about their hanging. Probably that would never come through. The soul of Gandhi would be obstructing the passage of law weeping and beating its chest. These would be changed to life imprisonment at the worst. The case of Afzal who masterminded attack on parliament who is awaiting execution is the most novel evidence for the lack luster policy of the government in dealing with the present problem. We have no courage to be firm. We want to be goody and nice. We only talk of non violence or else Gandhi’s soul would bleed (5). Come what may! Let the nation bleed for any length of time. Our weak policy earlier resulted in handing over of Terrorists from the jail to Taliban in Kabul some time ago. Prolonged trials helped the terrorists in masterminding the plot to hijack an airliner to Kabul and demand the release of their comrades. No one should be surprised if terrorists in future do similar thing and demand release of Afzal Guru. Our top brass turned their faces other way or else minorities would not vote for them. What else we can expect in the country with such policies? It has gone into the minds of all Islamic terrorists that India is a very weak nation and can not take strong actions against minorities for the fear of loosing vote banks. Any amount of hammering in India is not going to wake them up even if it is another partition. Such is the case to day in reality (6).
Army , police and NSG have done well in killing the thugs instead of catching them and allowing them to be put on trial out of which nothing would come through. However there is one terrorist captured from whom information is being drawn. The terrorist has revealed that the operation was very well planned for months and ammunition was stored. The very fact that the action went on for three days reveals the extensive planning and meticulous execution of the operation. Now the government wants to form another agency to tackle the problem and only God would know how it would eliminate the problem. There will be another additional agency to add to prevailing confusion and chaos in coordination and professional rivalry. The usual problem with these intelligence and law enforcing agencies is the professional jealousy among them. They avoid sharing information and follow up too to a great extent. Some times they brush off such information as over enthusiasm. Probably at present such problems have resulted in the calamity. It would be difficult to bring out truth as investigating agencies themselves become part of the sordid drama in letting down the nation. The reality is that the present ruling government has let down the nation by not preventing terrorist activities in the country by their loose and incompetent policy. India is demanding the arrest and handing over of Chief of Lashkar E Toiba (LET) who is in Pakistan (7). Will Pakistan hand over him on a silver plate? It is necessary to draw the attention to the way Israeli intelligence men brought Adolf Eichmen one time Nazi criminal some decades ago from a foreign country by a special secret operation. He was tried in Israel and hanged. Can India ever imagine such operations? May be in dreams and in the operation rooms of Defense ministry ( South block) over sand models in air conditioned rooms where top brass in uniform and pomp and show deliberate tactics against imaginary enemy while the thugs are planning right under their nose. It is a simple truth that Pakistan will not hand over any person (8). They understand only a stick as seen from past Indian experiences. Although USA has sent its officials to the sub continent it is unlikey that Pakistan would yield to hand over any one. America initially appeared tough when it told Pakistan to act tough. (9) but later America already is soft pedaling the issue and has shown unhappiness for a military action against Pakistan. Both nations are now nuclear. Does this mean that India has to face humiliation eternally at Pakistan’s hands? Tolerance has to be limited up to a level and once it crosses the line, reaction has to be all out and if the enemy understands the language of a bullet probably it is the only way out for India. Sooner is better before Iron gets cold. India should not develop cold feet or else it will draw more attacks and this time it could be more devastating too.


Bibliography

1.Mahogra Samaram ( Great battle), Eenadu, Hyderabad, AP, India, November 28, 2008, PP1

2.Eenadu,It is the work of ISI, Hyderabad, Ap, India, December 05, 2008, PP 1

3. Venkatesh kesari, Protests boot out Vilasrao, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, December 04, 2008 PP 1

4. Venkatesh Kesari, Patil out, Shinde may be next CM ,

5.Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao (Retired), pseudo secularism and derailed India ( telugu), Saraswathi printers, Hyderabad, 2005, AP, India

6.. Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao (Retired), .India and terrorism… What lacks here? faithcommons.org, June 04, 2008, 10:13

7.Pramod Kumar, India has proof of ISI’s hand, Deccan Chronicle, Hyerabad, AP, India, PP 1

8. We shall not hand over, Weshall try them in our land, Pakistan, eenadu ( Telugu),Hyderabad, December 4, 2008, PP 1, 5

9.Ramesh, Rice tells Zardarai to act tough, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, December 04, 208, PP1

Dr K Prabhakar Rao