New guidelines will clarify roles of DGP and police commissioner in crisis situations.
Home minister RR Patil, 53, the man who paid the price last year for 26/11 but returned to the same job a year later, has admitted that there were problems of coordination in the police response after the terror attacks were launched. He obliquely admitted that there was factionalism in the police force, and that the entry of terrorists from the sea route took the administration completely by surprise.
During the attacks, not only did the force lose three top officers — ATS chief Hemant Karkare, additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar — but many others were confused about their roles. Director-general of police (housing) Hasan Gafoor was recently quoted as saying that some of his top officers did not listen to him. He has since denied he made this statement. Two other senior police officers, joint commissioners of police Rakesh Maria and KL Prasad, ended up at the same control room.
Patil is determined to fix these problems this time around by emphasising professionalism. “If merit is the sole criterion for the appointment of top police officers, it will end factionalism within the force. We are now formulating guidelines which clearly define the roles of the commissioner of police and the director-general of police in such crisis situations,” he told DNA in an interview on the eve of the 26/11 anniversary.
“We are trying to resolve these problems by specifying everybody’s duties and jurisdiction. It will not be repeated in future. The objective of the new guidelines is to make them (the top officers) more accountable in their respective job areas. They will have to take the responsibility and deliver.”
Asked about the reported criticism of the RD Pradhan committee about Gafoor’s leadership during the crisis, Patil said the committee’s report would be effectively implemented so that all problems in the police force are fixed.
Did the police force acquit itself creditably on 26/11? Patil’s answer is a qualified yes.
“I can admit some shortcomings in coordination of work. But the role of the police, whether it was top ranking officers or junior policemen, cannot be dismissed completely. The police were combating a terrorist strike in Mumbai which had no parallel anywhere in the world. Except for the first 45 minutes, which saw maximum casualties, the policemen displayed immense courage by fighting the terrorists throughout the night. It was my policeman who caught a terrorist alive. The National Security Guard (NSG) commandos arrived the next day. How can I undermine the role of the city police?”
But whatever the shortcomings, Patil is determined to make sure that the next time no fingers are pointed. “I have returned with full confidence and resolve to make Mumbai police the number one force in the world. I have accepted the challenge and am ready to lay down my life to ensure the security of the people in Mumbai. No efforts will be spared to make people of state secure.”
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