It is a year since the 26/11 terror attacks: The Mumbai police and the state government claim that the police are better equipped and trained; in case of an attack, the city will be ready to deal with it and intelligence gathering has improved.
But the fact is that although the city police are being trained and equipped to face a possible terror attack, officials claim there is still a lot that needs to be done about the intelligence agencies. The country still needs to have a nodal intelligence agency, like the one the US government appointed after the September 11, 2001 attack.
“As far as coordination of intelligence agencies is concerned there is now a conscious effort to share information. However, there is no formalised arrangement to have one nodal agency,” said former commissioner of police, MN Singh.
Post 26/11 internal investigations noted that there was lack of coordination between the various agencies — RAW, IB, armed forces intelligence, etc. “There was evidence that RAW had given information to the IB, which did not pass on the information to the Mumbai police,” said a source.
Besides a nodal agency, police officials also believe that central intelligence information needs to be processed in a more simplified manner. “The intelligence clearing process in central agencies is so complicated that a crucial piece of information would get lost. We need it to be made simplified,” Singh said.
The recent Headley case is one such example, where a simplified and coordinated effort has reaped benefits. The Federal Bureau of Intelligence was the first to make a breakthrough in the case and the information was shared with Indian agencies and hence, the progress. “The RAW, IB, SID, ATS, Mumbai crime branch and other agencies have all pooled their efforts in this case. The intelligence gathering too seems to be on track, indicating a better coordinated effort,” said a senior police official.
“It is a fact that our intelligence gathering has improved from post 26/11. The intelligence agencies don’t come out in the open but yes their methodology too has beefed up,” agrees former DG SS Virk.
However, police officials say it is time the state government looks at the accountability of its politicians and senior police officers. “We can only pray that the politicians stop witch hunting as they did after the 26/11, by shunting top police officer. You will never see this happening in other countries,” said a senior police officer. Singh added, “While we have honoured our brave slain police, seniors leaders, who were in comfortable places during the attacks, should have been punished.”
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