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| Glaring lapses in ‘Maximum City’ | | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
A group of terrorists, highly motivated and indoctrinated, came unnoticed by the human eye but noticed by the close circuit TVs(CCTVs),attacked Mumbai. They killed over 127 and injured about 300 people. It was their mission. The intensity of the gun and grenade attack at 11 places including on four major buildings in Mumbai, experts believe, must have taken at least two months of preparation. Again experts say that before the terrorists launched the biggest ever armed attack in Mumbai they, or their accomplices, must have carried out prolonged recce. Unfortunately all these activities and planning went unnoticed by the security and intelligence agencies. Lapse on the part of the security and intelligence agencies has cost heavily by way of loss of precious human life, including those of 16 security personnel. If the CCTVs captured the movement of these terrorists why such movement went unnoticed by the sleuths of intelligence and security agencies ?The way the pictures captured by the CCTVS at various places including the Taj and Oberoi hotels is a clear proof of major security and intelligence lapse.
Well the operation launched by the men of the Army, NSG, police and paramilitary forces in eliminating and arresting militants deserves praise but had the security and intelligence agencies been vigilant the tragedy would have been averted. The most unfortunate aspect of the event was the way the terrorists succeeded in travelling from Cama hospital to the five star hotels in a police van, which was parked outside the hospital. Another major security lapse. The vehicle should not have been left unguarded outside the hospital. When the terrorists boarded the security vehicle they got almost a passport for free movement in the city. It indicates that there was nobody from any security agency who could prevent terrorists from hijacking the police vehicle. Yet another lapse. These terrorists were carrying assault rifles and bags full of grenades and other explosives. They entered the hotels and the Nariman building like dignitaries. No doubt while entering into the Taj hotel they opened fire killing the front office staff members but had these hotels security guards fully equipped with latest weapons they could have retaliated. The stick wielding hotel security guards offered no resistence. Even if they had offered they would have met instant death. The Government needs to examine these issues. Atleast the Government in trouble torn Jammu and Kashmir needs to learn a lesson or two from the lapses the security and intelligence agencies had committed.
Again the way the CCTV footage has not been utilised by the security and intelligence agencies for foiling the nefarious plan of the terrorists seems to have made the experiment of installing CCTVs at Railway stations, Bus stands, malls hotels and other public places redundent.The most unfortunate part of the tragedy is the content of the bytes one militant, who called himself Imran Babar, and an activist of Deccan Mujahideen, gave to a couple of TV channels on phone. While he evaded reply to some probing questions he kept on repeating about the massacre of Muslims in India. He wanted the massacre to be stopped to allow Muslims in India to live with dignity. Another "holed up" militant could not spell out what were his demands. He was heard seeking help from his fellow travelers. He too wanted end of massacre of Muslims, release of all detained militants. It is not important whether the terrorists were from Pakistan or from Hyderabad or from Gujarat. What is important is the way their attack on civilians and security personnel harmed the interests of Muslims in India. The terrorists had roted three words “massacre of Muslims" and this was enough to motivate them to launch suicide attack on hotels and other areas. When foreign mercenaries sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir for launching jihad those among them who were arrested told their interrogators that they had been told in Pakistan that Muslims were being massacred and mosques were being demolished and destroyed in Jammu and Kashmir. They had also stated that they had been told in arms training camps that Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir did not enjoy religious freedom. When further quizzed they had said that they did not see any massacre or restrictions on Muslims wishing to perform their religious duties. Over the years these very terrorists, local or foreigners, have endangered the dignity, freedom and lives of Muslims while trying to be their saviors. |
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