‘Better prepared to avert attacks now’

Former top cops claim that post 26/11, Mumbai is more equipped to prevent or deal with terror attacks

Former top police officials are of the view that Mumbai is well prepared to prevent or to deal with a terror strike as compared to the situation during 26/11 Mumbai attacks. However, they have also said that a fidayeen attack (suicide mission) is very difficult to prevent. Further, a de-radicalisation programme is need of the hour, they said.

Vappala Balachandran (IPS), who was on the two-member High-Level Enquiry Committee (HLEC) on the 26/11 attacks said, “Our preparedness to avert such attacks is much better right now than what it was during the 26/11 attacks. We saw that during the festival season when preventive vigilance against unauthorised entry was enforced by both the police and public. In comparison, France failed to organise any check on entries of people with AK-47 rifles etc. at the football stadium and rock concerts. Also, they were issued a high alert recently. The warning was given by British MI5 chief Andrew Parker on October 29. Why did the French not take heed to it ”

According to former ADG P.K. Jain, a fidayeen attack is impossible to stop but he said that presently the Mumbai police is fully competent to neutralise a terror attack quickly and effectively. “We need to work on human intelligence and informants but now if a 26/11 like terror strike takes place, it will not sustain for 60 hours like it did back then.”

Former director general of police Sanjeev Dayal, former DGP Sivanandhan and Mr Jain are of the view that a de-radicalisation programme is required to ensure that the youth are not indoctrinated and used by terrorists as foot soldiers.

“The chief minister had conducted several meetings in this regard. I am sure the home department will come out with a concrete policy for the de-radicalisation programme.”

Experts like Mr Sivanandhan and Mr Balachandran had spoken about the programme back in 2010 at a press conference and their concerns proved true when a few years later, four young men from Kalyan joined ISIS.

“We have got the Force 1, National Security Guard (NSG) for Mumbai. We even had Israeli commandos train our men, opened 25 gymnasiums, got several boats for coastal security and a new intelligence academy was made to ensure the city’s security,” said Mr Sivanandhan. However, there is a question mark now on whether there has been an up-gradation or maintenance of the weapons and infrastructure of the security system.

A senior serving IPS officer said on the condition of annonymity, “There has been no proper upgradation or maintenance.”