Condolences

It is saddening that some brave people had to sacrifice their life protecting innocent from marauding psychopaths. Police Officers like Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte, Maj. Unnikrishnan, Hw Gajendra Singh …..and others (I particularly am saddened by the death of young Major, few decades back if we were in Bengaluru he would be family friend who would be invited for weekend get together-it’s the mallu thing. The images of his funeral in TV were quite depressing, I couldn’t hold back my tears. These events affect me deeply the reason why I change channel to Pogo’s Hole in the Wall. I guess it better to go a long break).

I hear that proper equipments were not being sanctioned, the reason why ATS Chief was killed was lack of bullet proof vest, if it is true then it shocking. Also the cops were carrying vintage .303 rifles (I read in the Net that .303 was developed in 1880s)!!!. The inherited steel structure (read bureaucrats at Home Ministry) is nothing but plastic, buckling where the political weight is. It is also appalling case of negligence that few people could breach Indian maritime boundary with boats loaded with weapons, and no it’s not some obscure coast but India’s commercial capital. Understanding that India’s huge coastline maybe difficult to guard but breach at Mumbai is an amazing case of incompetence. Foreign Minister was quoted as saying “elements from Pakistan” are involved, it looks likely. But why isn’t the DG of NSG calling a press conference and make the evidence public and make it formal rather than wild theories spread by some sections in media, some even implicating Taj employees others even flashed that terrorist have been given safe passage to escape!! (....well these kinds of incidents are better than reality shows for some, atleast they don’t have to chase the boy with leaf growing out of his ear!!. It is prime time jingoism masquerading patriotism, the sale pitch is understandable). Pointing fingers at Pakistan if there is concrete evidence is the right step to take but what about negligence within, who will be held responsible?. It though is clear that rogue elements in Pakistan are a threat to world peace.

This blogger as any other common Indian feels that it is high time that India has centralized unified response to such crisis, there is a need for reduced action time. There is an immediate need for creating central agency or upgrading NSG to face increasingly technology savvy and vicious forms of terrorist threat. There is also an immediate need for crisis management cell that is given all power to deal with the situation in a professional manner. NSG though has done a commendable job. It gives lots confidence to common people for the State.

This blogger understands that it is very difficult to stop terrorist attacks of the kind seen at Taj, it could be any iconic building, establishment or figure (I guess that the reason why even Amitabh Bachchan felt insecure), but there should be zero tolerance for negligence or dereliction of responsibility. This blogger though is very concerned about shoddy investigation; the reason why I strongly feel that it should be taken away from political influence since they use it for settling personal scores (Godhra is a minor example). How many blasts cases have been solved?. It is appalling that investigation areas are not cordoned off, even this blogger who doesn’t have much knowledge about forensic knows that evidence get contaminated!!. There is an urgent need for modernization and putting some procedure in place.