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| Salute the heroes of Mumbai | | | D.S. Soman
Hemant Karkare and other policemen who died as a result of the bullets fired at them were victims of the apathy of the government, both at the Centre and state. Terrorism is nothing new to India. Indeed, we have been facing terrorist attacks since the 1990s. The most striking attack was on March 12, 1993 when 12 bombs went off in Mumbai, shaking its very foundations. Since then there have been many attacks by terrorists from across the border - in Delhi, on Parliament, temples and vital establishments in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Surat.
Our reaction to all these attacks was to condemn them and point the finger at our enemy across the border. In general, the public were told that security is being stepped up and intelligence improved. On ground, the public hardly felt or saw any difference in the situation. The governments, both at the Centre and the states, meanwhile, continued in their laidback style. Politics took precedence over everything else and it hardly crossed their minds that something basic needs to be done to tackle the menace. Terrorist acts were treated as a law and order problem which the state concerned was expected to deal with.
Meanwhile, encouraged by the attitude of a docile public, the state governments continued to play politics and as a result, the administration started becoming weaker. Politicians in the government hardly have any control over the bureaucracy and very often team up with the babus, taking corruption to new depths.
The biggest mistake the states as well as the Central government made was to treat terrorism as a law and order problem. They did not realise that terrorism requires a different treatment. Today's terrorist is a young man who is, perhaps very well educated. He is put through an intensive course of training and has dry runs of the place/s where he is expected to strike. Mostly, the terrorist sent on these mission is highly motivated and thinks nothing of sacrificing his or her life, specially suicide bombers who destroy themselves while executing the assigned task.
Yet, we have learnt nothing from them. The 12 blasts which shook Mumbai in March 1993 were a model of meticulous planning. Help of locals was taken to unload explosives on lorries. The crowning glory of the whole operation was that a senior customs officer "guided" the transportation of the deadly cargo to Mumbai. In spite of all this no government department ran a check on their staff - to check their loyalties. In other words, we sent a message loud and clear that we are a soft State and tolerate whatever our officials do.
In the prevailing atmosphere the bureaucrat has learnt to align himself with an influential politician to make himself secure. We, therefore, see the interesting spectacle of a babu charged with corruption coming out clean after a departmental enquiry and then being promoted in the same office so that he can settle scores with his erstwhile colleagues who blew the whistle on him!
Regarding the recent incident, Maharashtra had enough warning of the impending threat. But the authorities took it very lightly. That apart, there was no preparation on the ground to meet a challenge of this kind. In spite of several incidents of terrorist attacks, the state was nowhere close to being prepared to meet any challenge from the terrorists. For instance, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) was not equipped with proper bullet-proof jackets.
This year, so far, the country has suffered 59 blasts and two terrorist attacks that have left 441 dead. In spite of what is happening in the country the government of Maharashtra never thought of setting up its own unit of the National Security Guards (NSG) or creating an elite force of commandos. In the event precious time was lost as the NSG took nine hours to reach Mumbai from Delhi after it was directed to go for help.
Apart from an NSG unit, what Maharashtra needs urgently is to revamp its intelligence apparatus. The city crime branch and the special branch were the eyes and ears of the government and it was regarded prestigious to be posted to these important branches. Not any more. With increased politicisation of the police force and the government machinery in general, these branches have lost their glamour. The phenomenal rise in corruption in government departments is an additional reason why officers and men have to be virtually pushed into these branches. Gathering intelligence is a difficult, laborious task. It requires unremittting hard work. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Not everyone is cut out for the task. The personnel in the special branch need intensive training and proper motivation and it is for the government to find ways to keep the force motivated.
The police force in Maharashtra has had no competent leadership for the past few years. It is necessary for the government to select good leaders and entrust the police machinery to them. Both in terms of equipment and facilities, the force needs a new look.
What is urgently needed is to rid the force of the continuous interference from the politicians. Whether it is investigation of an important case or an enquiry, the political class does not leave the police alone.
In the case of investigations into the Malegaon blast the controversy created by the Bharatiya Janata Party touched a new low in the allegations made against the head of the ATS.
The terrorist class was divided into two classes - one of Muslims and the other of Hindus who could do no wrong as they are wedded to Hindutva. It never struck the political class that they are causing irreparable damage to the system. The political class must leave the police to pursue investigations without fear or favour. There are courts and the government to question them if they do not follow the straight and narrow path.
Last but not the least, let the government take some steps to bring down the level of corruption. A beginning has to be made at the political level, where the rot begins. Money, irrespective of its source, has become synonymous with respectability and political parties think nothing of fielding candidates with shady records. When the whole system of governance is polluted that is a fertile ground for terrorists to infiltrate. A terrorist cannot survive without local support and if that can be bought with money it's easy to find a foothold. It is high time politicians put the interests of the country above their own personal interests.
The brave officers and men who laid down their lives died as a result of the apathy of our governments. Even at this late stage if steps are taken to rejuvenate the system, their sacrifices will not go in vain.
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