Four days after three blasts ripped through the city killing 20 people and injuring 132, the police are still groping in the dark and the chief minister is pleading helplessness.
Four days after three blasts ripped through the city killing 20 people and injuring 132, the police are still groping in the dark and the chief minister is pleading helplessness.
Prithviraj Chavan, faced with the biggest administrative and political challenge of his career, told journalists at an informal meeting that the blasts have left him flummoxed.
“When terrorists attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008, we knew the opponent,” he said. “We knew they were Pakistani terrorists. But, here the enemy is faceless; they simply carry out blasts by dropping a plastic bag in a dustbin or they just plant a bomb in the congested Zaveri Bazaar area.”
Chavan said he was shocked when he could not get across to the police or the home ministry for 15 minutes as all mobile telephone lines were jammed.
“I was at the Mantralaya along with senior officers. I have to admit I felt so helpless when I could not get across to the police chief as all lines were jammed. We need to upgrade the communication system.”
A day after the blasts, Chavan had said it was a mistake of not keeping the home ministry with him. The statement did not go down well with coalition partner, the NCP.
The chief minister said he was embarrassed that he made such a comment but at the same time, he would like to make it clear that he would call the shots regarding state security.
“After all I will be held responsible for everything,” he said. “There are loopholes and we need to plug them. Only then will the people feel reassured.”
The chief minister admitted that Maharashtra has turned into a soft spot for terrorists. “But we can change that if the conviction rates in terrorist cases go up. I can fully understand people demanding that Kasab be hanged at the earliest. Despite completing the conviction in record time, we cannot do much because of the system. Certain procedures need to be followed.”
In Wednesday’s blasts, primary reports have indicated that the Indian Mujahideen was involved. “But nothing can be said for sure,” Chavan said. “Also, we will have to reorient our strategies to tackle terrorists. The intelligence departments need to have the best brains; it cannot be treated as a side-posting if we want results.”
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