Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Terror Attacks in Mumbai - Steps to Counter Terrorism

In last almost 9 or 10 days, I have been following the entire episode on Terror Attack on Mumbai, I have followed all the possible sources of news, mail forwards, chats and blogs that I could lay my hands on. Almost every blog or newspaper article or mail forward in last 3 or 4 odd days can be linked to the POST MORTEM of the attacks. Questions being raised, fingers being pointed and moreover forwarders urging to do something or other including not to vote during elections.

Well I was aghast that how ridiculous thoughts can be. The worst that I read / seen was from the Pakistan, a media clipping where it was stated that the Mumbai Terror attacks were insider (read Hindu Radical) job and that Governement machinery was involved. That went up to the limits of saying that US was successful in camouflaing 9/11, but India failed miserably. Whatever, but later another news read - Pakistan admimts to US that rogue elments based in Pakistan might have been behind the attack, that too when Indian Government put the facts across the table to Pakistan counterparts. mind it Indian Investigation agency is being supported by US, UK and Israeli counterparts and there is a join probe (investigation) being carried out.

Now with all that, I made a turn around to find out about what all leaders have to say about these attacks, and to the best of them came from -

1. RR Patil - "बड़े बड़े शहरों में ऐसी छोटी छोटी वारदातें होती रहती हैं|" This too in front og the Camera.
2. Kerala CM - "If it were not Martry's house, even dog wouldn't have gone to them"

Both the most attrocious remarks from many politician I ever heard that too when its been declared as the attack on India (War situation) and when case of a Martyr is being dealt with. The first one then resigns siting morale etc and the second one is not ready to apologize too...Shameless creatures

On the other hand, yet once again the SMS round plays with MNS Chief's wife sending across SMSes claiming that those who lost life during combing operations were "मराठी माणूस". I was thinking what about other scores of whom died, what about scores of NSG/MARCOS/Army personnel most of whom were Non Marathi....and BTW where was this MNS Chief hiding till the final bullet was shot and NSG declared end of Operation to comb the seiged buildings?

Then yet another promise that we have heard N number of times that there would be a National level Intellignece unit consituted with a specialist force developed to tackle such situations in future with its base in the metroes.

But my question is when will all these promises be fulfiled?? when will Indians see a coordinated intelligence information taken into considerastions and then thwarting such attacks much before they materialize?? This is inadvertently a BIG time lapse in the timely action on the information received from US and other Intelligence units within India that the perpetrators succeeded in creating such a mayhem.

Moreover we are at a juncture where the regime of current government is towrads its fag end and we are almost close to the elections early next year. I am not sure whether we would be able to see the dawn in this regime, or whatever steps that the current government takes toards creation of the National level Security Agency, the new government would support them and would not overturn them.

The fellow countrymen need to raise up and join hands so as to ensure that the following steps are taken at the minimum and also that once steps are taken forward on these sides, change in government does not overturn them as well they do not get stuck in the RED TAPE BEAUROCRACY as it prevails in the Government offices and the departments. Like Home Department, Foreign Department, Security etc etc etc....

Suggestive Steps -

1. Issue National Identity Cards / Social Security Number to all the LEGAL National Citizens of the country with work assigned to a central agency. Control of this agency could be in Supervision of NSG/CBI

2. Central Intelligence and Security Operations Team to beConstituted, with direct reporting to the Chief of Army or NSG with trained Commondo Force provided with the Latest Ammunition training and provided with the latest ammunitions (incidentally most of the Police Force personnel in Mumbai Police didn't have the practice of operating their guns for more than 10 years)

3. Central Security Agency to be given Autonomous Power to act immediately on receipt of any Intelligence input with input provided to National Security Advisor (to be appointed from the vast pool of ex Army/Navy/Airforce Command). The NSA then should coordinate between Government and Central Security Agency rather than Home Minister.

4. NSA to have power to approach President in case of Contention with the Primi Minister or anyother minister over various issuesin sight then and President to be empowered to take the final decision in consultation with NSA, Chief of Army, Navy and Airforce.

5. Dedicated Shooting Range for Police Officers to be created at district levels with mandatory practice hours defined for each Police Officer right from Constable to IG

6. Police Officers of Sub-Inspector and Inspector rank be trained for Commando Operations mandatorily and that all the trained officers be made to rotate between state Police services and Central Security Agency. (Incientally Patrol Commandos that were inducted in Mumbai Police post 2003 are not to be seen anywhere these days).

7. Waterfronts to be made more secure by deployment of additional forces specifically around the major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata etc.

8. In Case of Emergency number to be assigned ot Central Security Agency and this number to be available irrespective of carrier be it Fixed line, WLL or GSM mobile.

9. Central repository of Citizens along with their National Security number to be created and attached with their banking transactions, telephone lines (fixed or mobile), travel pattern and any other vital information as may be perceived.

10. Though Anti-Terror Act like TADA/MCOCA to be enacted and enforced nation-wide. Separate trial courts for such cases be consituted and operated under joint supervision of Chief Justice of India and the National Security Advisor.

11. Elected Mayor to be enforced for all the Metros and minimum qualification and Experience criteria to be enforced for them.

12. All the Mayors be aligned to the Central Security Agency and National Security advisors for dotted line reporting to ensure their responsibility does include Security of the city they represent.

Now these are my thoughts based on whatever I have read through various articles and evaluation of the lapses. I would rquest all there to pour i your thoughts alongside mine to be able to put a strong message to the Government.

And well once the points as suggested above are addressed, a regular update be provided across to the lawful citizens about the progress made.

Please join hands with me and the other like minded citizens of India for a safer and peaceful future.

Mayank

9 comments:

  1. I have gone thru ur write up and appreciate ur concern towards the country - but do u think with the kind of corrupt Govt. we have , is it possible to implement even one of the suggestions u have made here? It will be these useless politicians who will be the first to flaunt all laws to get votes.
    Its for us, the common man to rise and take control of the situation - outs all these corrupt politicians and instate one man who will rule this country with an iron hand and do justice towards the common man.
    We have ministers from all the possible criminal records except from being a professionals. Why do we have ministers who have any criminal background. 3 days have passed and our political parties have already started using photographs of our immortal policemen and soldiers for their posters for election programs. Aren't they ashamed in doing so.

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  2. I must say that this is real good observation and findings along with good points to follow.

    As per me the bottom line is … that we all are running away from our responsibilities … if everyone starts realizing their own responsibilities and that is also honestly … we can make the difference …

    As per me … now time is come to prepare ourselves on Cyber Crime Front … so we are the right person who can start on … (As I have noticed that they have used cyber technology in last few terrorist incidents)

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  3. to address Freddie's concern .... Below are the solution to it .... for our all time corrupted politicians ...

    Section 49-O of the Constitution

    Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section "49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone!

    Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called "49-O".

    Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be canceled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system... it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public....

    Please spread this news to as many as you know...Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India... show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting... so don't miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O) and pass this info on...

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  4. Mumbai attacks are the real revelation. It’s good to see citizens on the
    streets at this massive scale. However, we’ll have to see how long we,
    the common citizens, can stick together and find concrete solutions to
    the immediate problems. Please check the video to see the reactions.


    http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha_O14M081A

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  5. Amit - this abstract of the non vote has been doing the circuit since the last elections. I must have received this for at least 20 times since the 26/11 attack.
    The point is , how many ppl kn abt it and even after knowing , how many r willing to exercise it.

    Considering that this right to "I VOTE NOBODY" is franchised, and the elections canceled, wt next? I seriously doubt as to how much genuine voting takes place and how much weightage does your individual hold.there is so much of rigging and manipulation going on everywhere.
    I don't think this is enough to serve the clause. We need to take more drastic measures to crub this menace and have a clean and effective system.

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  6. Freddie / Amit,

    As I see it from the standpoint of raising fingers, then I guess we are the first ones to be blamed for the system as it is. Ok 49-O is a little unknown clause and is not as effective. Big deal, there are many such things in the constitution of India and other laws prevailing in the geography.

    The ill equipped system and the legacy that we received from our seniors does not mean that we also pass the same stuff to the Gen Next. We all certainly need to join hands and have the system cleansed for the deficiencies, and this certainly can't happen with all of us just discussing on this page, we need to take forward the things as covered to the real life; then only we would see the change.

    What I have read on various procession's agenda is we had had enough and we would not tolerate this or we would not tolerate that, but what next is missing; the question is where do we go from here if we just keep writing about deficiencies without coming out with a solution?

    Every Problem has its solution within itself. If we have Educated Ministers like Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram at this stage, then I do not see that we would not have crime free parliament, just a matter of reaching out extending hands and holding each others' hands to create a Wave of Change.

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  7. Suchita/ Amit,
    Thanks Amit for such a valuable information. I had no idea there such solution available in our constitution. Im sure there are many like me who have idea of its existences.
    Yes you are right that it us who makes changes , if we not stand now than we cant blame the corrupt government for not doing anything for our country.
    But there is one question are we ready to spare our time from our busy schedule and take time for our stands?Its not easy, may take lot of time

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  8. Well, this comment has nothing do with this post. It is a general one.

    Tonight i went through your whole blog. Ofcourse i can't read so much in one go but yes i read majority of poems and thoughts. I have noticed that in initials days you have been posting poems & articles which were more of love and life based having some philosophical touch but in you recent posts i see the element of love missing. They carried some innocence. I find most of the recent posts / articles reality based, politics based with tone of aggression, dissatisfaction. In the recent ones, I found the tune, the music missing. There is big deviation, a big disconnect.

    It is my sincere request to you as a friend that you must return back to 2007 times. I really liked those poems, those thoughts of yours. Don't know whether you have stopped writting poems or you have simply stopped posting them on this blog but the old Mayank must come back.

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  9. Hi All,

    I am totally agree that this must not be the last and final solution but my point is let us start with it ....

    You all must have seen how Congress plays in Maharashtra ... and how Mr. Rane reacts to it ... All these are still proving that our politicians are still not understanding the crisis or the criticality ...

    Today the mass is ready to fight but as per me the proper leadership is missing like Gandhi etc. etc. so this aggressiveness will exhaust by times goes if we not get the good leader to drive this ... Believe me we will be on the same stage from where we all have started ...

    I know this is all "GYAN" but we should discuss or come to the conclusion after deciding the Plan of Action ..

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