The Mumbai serial train blasts that killed over 200 persons on July 11, 2006 is the most serious attack on the Indian state and its people since the attack on Parliament in December 2001. To assure the people that they will be protected, the government should immediately formulate a National Counter-Terrorism Strategy, create a separate Ministry of Internal Security affairs.
The Mumbai serial train blasts that killed over 200 persons and left more than 700 injured within a span of 11 minutes on July 11, 2006 is the most serious attack on the Indian state and its people since the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001. Like the Parliament attack, the Mumbai blasts should be treated as an act of war against the nation. These attacks were some of the high points in the continuing proxy-war that Pakistan has launched against India.
State response to such terrorist incidents has been grossly inadequate. On occasions, there has been a complete breakdown of the law and order machinery. Poor intelligence gathering and lack of will and resources to follow-up on information provided by Central and or State intelligence agencies have often allowed terrorist groups to carry out their operations without much difficulty. Police have often failed to deter terrorists. This malaise is caused by a growing lack of professionalism in intelligence agencies and police forces, phenomenal increase of political interference and government’s indifference to carry out reforms in the police.
The political response to terrorism has been equally dismal. At the initial stages and even much later, the State governments are reluctant to describe terrorist acts as ‘terrorist acts’ and prefer to deal with them as law and order problems until it is too late. Political parties have often neutralized anti-terrorism laws for narrow political interests. The leadership has repeatedly failed to face the challenge of terrorism squarely, capitulating in the face of crises like hijackings and hostage-taking incidents.
India is, therefore, increasingly being seen as a soft and indolent state which is bending over backwards for vote bank politics. This impression has to be corrected forthright. If this is not done, ordinary citizens, including minorities, will lose faith in the government and the terrorists will take advantage, as they seem to be doing.
There is a general lack of public awareness or a reluctance to help or volunteer information lest it rebound on the informer. There is a lack of public confidence in the law and order machinery and also a genuine lack of general awareness about what to look for and what to do. There is, at the same time, an over dependence on the state with an unwillingness to help in the normal course.
To assure the people that they will be protected the government should undertake the following measures:
(i) Policy & Mechanism – Formulate a National Counter-Terrorism Strategy; and Create separate Ministry of Internal Security affairs and institute a Counter Terrorism Centre;
(ii) Armed & Punitive Action -Direct overt and covert actions against terrorists and terrorist groups; Completely root-out the underworld in Mumbai. Silence fugitive underworld leaders and operatives; Hunt down groups like SIMI. Punish political leaders linked to such groups; and Stop terrorist funding through punitive legislation.
(iii) Legislation – Introduce a comprehensive, permanent anti-terror law and take firm action to prevent the abuse of such a law; Make a provision to declare a person as terrorist; and Take action to secure extradition of fugitive terrorists.
(iv) Intelligence & Security – Re-invigorate intelligence and police forces in all States; Strengthen Joint Taskforce on Intelligence, Multi Agency Centre and Joint Intelligence Committee; and Create Counter-Terrorism Fund.
(v) Prevention, Preparedness and Response – Formulate a comprehensive action plan to prevent attacks on mass transit systems; and Prepare to face recurring, more lethal terror attacks
(vi) Pakistan – Make terrorism an integral part of Composite Dialogue.
● Force Pakistan to shut down LeT, JeM and all other terrorist organizations targeting India.
● Launch global diplomatic and media campaign to pressurize Pakistan to act against terrorist groups
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