Some terrorism experts believe there won’t be another 26/11; the next strike may be even more spectacular. So, are we prepared for such an eventuality? The truthful answer has to be NO.
Three years after the audacious attack that left 166 people dead and more than 250 injured, not much has changed in Mumbai.
Though the authorities say a lot has been done to strengthen the police force and give it the firepower to tackle a similar situation, our security preparedness is still poor. Most of the assurances given by the state and central governments after 26/11 regarding security remain on paper. The state’s 770km coastline is as vulnerable today as it was on that Wednesday evening three years ago. A proposal to set up radars along the coast to spot suspicious craft and send alerts continues to do the rounds of our bureaucrats’ offices. The initiative to set up a distress alert transmission system (DATS) on all fishing vessels has so far managed to cover only Mumbai and Raigad.
The National Security Guard (NSG) hub which was to be set up in Mumbai is still under construction. The commandos’ temporary accommodationlacks even basic amenities. Meanwhile, Force One, the state’s own version of the NSG, is yet to get its own base; its commandos train at a makeshift camp in Kalina.
Some of the expensive and sophisticated weapons and equipment that the police bought after 26/11 are lying unused as the force has not been trained to handle them. A mobile explosives/narcotics scanner bought for a whopping Rs7 crore lies idle while seven of the eight amphibious vehicles acquired by the police are rusting because they don’t have the expertise to maintain them. Many doorframe metal detectors installed at CST and Churchgate station do not function. As for the other stations on the suburban network, the less said the better.
While Ajmal Kasab deserves to be hanged, that alone will not prevent future attacks. There is no substitute for being well prepared, equipped and alert.
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