Terror fear made govt be secretive

Intelligence Bureau inputs saying advance announcement of Kasab’s hanging could lead to a terror attack is what made the state government maintain complete secrecy about Operation X. 

Officials involved in the operation were warned that action would be taken against them if there was any leak. They were also apprised about the possible threat to their personal security.

After the state government received the official communique through a special messenger — an official from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) — on November 9, the state home department expedited the procedure of the execution. Only a few officials from the department, a couple of ministers and top police officers were in the loop for next 12 days. A home department official said the MHA had warned them with serious repercussions if any information related to the operation was leaked. “Any leak related to the execution could have posed serious security threats. There could have been an attempt to free the terrorist or some other hurdles could have cropped up ahead of the execution,” he said.

Home minister RR Patil said on Wednesday that there were a few reasons that can’t be revealed behind maintaining the secrecy. Security concern was the major reason, he added. The home department official said the experience that came with burying the 9 slain terrorists at an unknown place and keeping the information under wraps helped it and the police this time.