Our collective heads are hanging in shame…
Where was the Crisis Management Group, and, what was it doing all this while? If popular Delhi FM radio station is to be believed, it took precious 9 hours for CMG to assemble and decide about sending NSG team to Mumbai. When it reached there, same source revealed, how they were brought to the venue of their action? No prize for guessing – in BEST buses, no less!
To break the somnambulistic lethargy emanating out of sense of being in power is provably the toughest challenge which Nation faces! Facing the terrorism or hostile nation is consequent and easier!! Leadership changing the dresses and changing the words still spewed same rhetoric! Not only the concerned ministry but the whole country takes the concerned Minister as a liability. ‘Address to the Nation’ with Zombie like glazed looks and monotone - devoid of feelings and emotions can not instill the trust and confidence of the citizens in the national leadership.
Where are the tough anti-terror laws they have been talking about? Where are the tough actions promised time and again?? When police from one Indian state can not enter other state on hot-pursuit then how doctrine of hot pursuit can be practiced when terrorists come from Pakistan and run back to it? Our leaders shy away even naming Pakistan as country behind terrorists activities and on sly name it as ‘neighboring country’ when actually they should name it as Pakistan. Terrorism can not be eliminated by tough talks; it can be eliminated only by tough actions. Taking decision is the most difficulty part; actions are easier for politicians and police forces respectively.
How one redeems his name, ask Hemant Karkare who led from front and sacrificed his life? Till few days back his name was being maligned and now he is a martyr! The political appointment – Director General of Maharashtra Police chose to issue statements from the comforts of his office using brave words when other Director General – in this case – of National Security Guards was in battle fatigue and supervised the whole operation rushing from place to place wherever his guidance was needed. He did not forget to introduce his team of officer involved in operation when he addressed the media. But when a local congress leader faced the camera, not only his followers chanted slogans in his favor as if he was addressing election rally, he himself made it a point to credit his leadership for planning to formulate ‘tough anti-terror law’. Hollow words, all these!
Security personnel and law enforcing agencies are routinely rubbished for being utterly unprofessional, criminally lethargic, poor in intelligence and shabby in action! There have been routinely departmental cases and guilty are punished. What about punishing the leadership? To whom they are answerable?
Some terrorist apprehended will be put through the long drawn legal battle. They might not get punishment, and, even when that happens there is no guarantee that the Government will not dither? Has Afzal been hanged so far? The family members of security personnel who laid down their lives defending the Parliament are still waiting the final decision on Afzal. The Top Executive of the country takes ages deciding on a ‘non-issue’ related to a dreaded terrorist but is always ‘pleased’ to punish some ‘Babu’ coming late to the office!
Those talking bravely about removing ‘North Indians’ from their Land had lapsed in tongue tormenting paralysis and are yet to speak even a single word condemning the terrorist attacks and about their plans to remove the terrorists from their Land.
There were already two ‘Senas” in Mumbai specially trained to bully and tormenting the innocents and vandalizing the public and private property. Surely these ‘Senas” could have handled the ‘terror situation’ in Mumbai without the help of ‘outsiders’ for this would otherwise sully the ‘Asmita’ (self dignity) of ‘Marathi Manoos’! Why was it not done remains a mystery! In fact other mystery is what were the ‘Senapatis’ doing at the time of crisis if not hiding in some bunkers?
When India demands America to declare Pakistan as ‘Rogue Nation’ or ‘Terrorist Nation’ it becomes laughing stock as it is same India which has accorded Pakistan the status of ‘Most Favored Nation’. We don’t have to present so called clinching evidences to USA for Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism in India. If we are so convinced about them, what stops us taking drastic actions? Super Power a country doesn’t become by pretensions, one only becomes by tough actions. Time for tough action is now, if there ever was any!
Our collective heads are hanging in shame for the way country’s leadership so irresponsibly and callously handled the situation in Mumbai! Those who know little Greek mythology will understand that cutting the snakes was never a solution as solution was cutting the head of Medusa! We can eliminate terrorism only by eliminating its breeding and feeding ground which is Pakistan.
Lessons learnnt from Mumbai terror Attacks...,
Where was the Crisis Management Group, and, what was it doing all this while? If popular Delhi FM radio station is to be believed, it took precious 9 hours for CMG to assemble and decide about sending NSG team to Mumbai. When it reached there, same source revealed, how they were brought to the venue of their action? No prize for guessing – in BEST buses, no less!
To break the somnambulistic lethargy emanating out of sense of being in power is provably the toughest challenge which Nation faces! Facing the terrorism or hostile nation is consequent and easier!! Leadership changing the dresses and changing the words still spewed same rhetoric! Not only the concerned ministry but the whole country takes the concerned Minister as a liability. ‘Address to the Nation’ with Zombie like glazed looks and monotone - devoid of feelings and emotions can not instill the trust and confidence of the citizens in the national leadership.
Where are the tough anti-terror laws they have been talking about? Where are the tough actions promised time and again?? When police from one Indian state can not enter other state on hot-pursuit then how doctrine of hot pursuit can be practiced when terrorists come from Pakistan and run back to it? Our leaders shy away even naming Pakistan as country behind terrorists activities and on sly name it as ‘neighboring country’ when actually they should name it as Pakistan. Terrorism can not be eliminated by tough talks; it can be eliminated only by tough actions. Taking decision is the most difficulty part; actions are easier for politicians and police forces respectively.
How one redeems his name, ask Hemant Karkare who led from front and sacrificed his life? Till few days back his name was being maligned and now he is a martyr! The political appointment – Director General of Maharashtra Police chose to issue statements from the comforts of his office using brave words when other Director General – in this case – of National Security Guards was in battle fatigue and supervised the whole operation rushing from place to place wherever his guidance was needed. He did not forget to introduce his team of officer involved in operation when he addressed the media. But when a local congress leader faced the camera, not only his followers chanted slogans in his favor as if he was addressing election rally, he himself made it a point to credit his leadership for planning to formulate ‘tough anti-terror law’. Hollow words, all these!
Security personnel and law enforcing agencies are routinely rubbished for being utterly unprofessional, criminally lethargic, poor in intelligence and shabby in action! There have been routinely departmental cases and guilty are punished. What about punishing the leadership? To whom they are answerable?
Some terrorist apprehended will be put through the long drawn legal battle. They might not get punishment, and, even when that happens there is no guarantee that the Government will not dither? Has Afzal been hanged so far? The family members of security personnel who laid down their lives defending the Parliament are still waiting the final decision on Afzal. The Top Executive of the country takes ages deciding on a ‘non-issue’ related to a dreaded terrorist but is always ‘pleased’ to punish some ‘Babu’ coming late to the office!
Those talking bravely about removing ‘North Indians’ from their Land had lapsed in tongue tormenting paralysis and are yet to speak even a single word condemning the terrorist attacks and about their plans to remove the terrorists from their Land.
There were already two ‘Senas” in Mumbai specially trained to bully and tormenting the innocents and vandalizing the public and private property. Surely these ‘Senas” could have handled the ‘terror situation’ in Mumbai without the help of ‘outsiders’ for this would otherwise sully the ‘Asmita’ (self dignity) of ‘Marathi Manoos’! Why was it not done remains a mystery! In fact other mystery is what were the ‘Senapatis’ doing at the time of crisis if not hiding in some bunkers?
When India demands America to declare Pakistan as ‘Rogue Nation’ or ‘Terrorist Nation’ it becomes laughing stock as it is same India which has accorded Pakistan the status of ‘Most Favored Nation’. We don’t have to present so called clinching evidences to USA for Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism in India. If we are so convinced about them, what stops us taking drastic actions? Super Power a country doesn’t become by pretensions, one only becomes by tough actions. Time for tough action is now, if there ever was any!
Our collective heads are hanging in shame for the way country’s leadership so irresponsibly and callously handled the situation in Mumbai! Those who know little Greek mythology will understand that cutting the snakes was never a solution as solution was cutting the head of Medusa! We can eliminate terrorism only by eliminating its breeding and feeding ground which is Pakistan.
Lessons learnnt from Mumbai terror Attacks...,
There are few lessons learnt from the whole 60 hours long operation which ended with more then 195 casualties and more then 280 injured –
Be ever ready!
It pays to be ‘battle ready’ as ‘shahadat’ of Karkare, Kamte and Saluskar has proved. If one is in security duty, do not forget to secure self! No need to be over protective to the verge of being coward, but ensure that reasonable precautions are taken! Dead heroes are history whereas living ones are the national assets.
Remain in control of the situation…
Do not let the situation control you! NSG has proved it more eloquently. Soon after they took charge, not even for a minute it appeared to those watching the whole scene in front of TVs that they were loosing control. They never appeared to be hassled and at receiving end and throughout the operation maintained high level of professionalism. One of the cherubic NSG Commando when asked what was toughest part of operation, nonchalantly commented that “nothing is difficult or tough for them!”
Think out-of-the box!
The terrorists’ strategies can not be taught in the class room from training books. The conventional tactics and strategies are for the conventional warfare for conventional armed forces. Terrorists use almost every time the most audacious and impractical approach for that reasons alone! The security forces need to think out-of-the box! The water-front was not used by the terrorist as approach route so far. But it never was a guarantee for no future use by them. When they did use it, no one was prepared. We have to start thinking the ‘impossible’ as surely someone is capable to convert it into ‘possible’.
Security Force! No hurry, take time! But be timely!!
It takes time to acclimatize with the ground. No security force or commando operation can be undertaken without proper planning involving the reconnaissance of the area to have ‘feel of the ground’. Only fools rush-in! The deliberate and prudent planning takes time as failure endangers precious lives and no ready made ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution can be applied to all the situations. However once the course of action has been decided the entire operation must be conducted with time and precision.
Power of taking Decisions
The Political Leadership takes time to decide, in fact their specialization is in delaying the decision taking and therefore expecting quick or timely decision is asking for too much. It is time that the onus of taking the decision is divested from the politicians and invested to the head of “Anti-Terrorist Federal Agency”, which needs to be created sooner.
NSG Deployment.
If presently National Security Guard (NSG) is expected to handle terrorist strike, hostage situation etc. then why must it remain located in Delhi? If NSG is expected to react to any situation occurring in any part of India, then it must be strategically located in various well connected cities preferably the metropolises. By the time the NSG team reaches the site of their operation, the least local police can do is to barricade the area, ensure smooth traffic movement for ambulance and vehicles of security forces.
Reliable & Timely Communication
Communication through Ham Radios, ‘blogging’ and ‘twittering’ can be very important for common citizens as networks are known to jam in such situations. Keeping the citizens informed is very important in such situations as rumor-mongering will not only demoralize them but may cause another law-and-order problem which law enforcing agencies can ill afford at the time.
Don’t be naïve, we are the terrorists!
Very naively one of the leading English daily describes a typical ‘fidayeen’ as “armed with an assault AK-47 rifle, a 9 mm pistol and several Chinese made hand grenades, with spare bullet magazines in his pouches an knapsack, apart from dry fruits and other eatables to sustain ..” This caricature of fidayeen terrorist is far from truth. The terrorists are not like soldiers of conventional armed forces that they will be always in ‘battle order’ when in battle. They have in past and will be in future too ‘dressed for the occasions’! the terrorists will dress as per the time and location related to their action and will be equipped as per the need and as per the Just because terrorists this time were equipped and accoutered like this doesn’t mean they will be similarly seen in future also. Most likely they will be looking different for the reasons that their appearance of similar type will draw attention in future.
Media! Please don’t mess-up with security personnel!
The media people have to realize that even when they have important duty to perform, their duty is still not more important then that of security forces. In their eagerness of ‘me-first’ they sometimes enter the area where they have no business to be in. There presence in such situation not only hinders the activities of the security personnel, they also become the liabilities of those security personnel who were risking their own lives to save others. The foolhardiness of one such correspondent surely must not have missed the attention of TV viewers when some correspondent was shown telling with bravado of having gone to the area where from he was rescued by the NSG commandos!
Media Ethics, what is that?
The TV channels are known to have gone overboard in such situation in past and this time was also no exception. It was not appreciated by the TV channel while live telecasting the talk with the terrorist that it was almost verging at “offering a platform to espouse their cause”. A fact was overlooked by the channel that a ‘legitimate reporting duty’ of the channel may jeopardize the innocent lives, create law-and-order situation or incite some part of the society for more violence.
Credibility of Media News: Mom no homework!
Common people must understand the most of the media people are ‘generalist’ journalist and being in young as most of them are, are not suppose to know all, even when they pretend otherwise. Their reporting may not be factually accurate or they might not have recourse to cross check the veracity of the facts when reporting live. In one case Kamte was referred as ACP and Additional CP in same breath! In other case NSG Havaldar was referred as senior officer! In both the cases the reporters had shown their very poor knowledge of rank structure of police and armed forces. Understand the affect on the police force of the news of death of Additional Commissioner of Police Addl. CP) when actually Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) died. Similarly people will tend to agree more with the news when it is reported that sources of the information is very senior army officer were as it was actually a havaldar! So, morale is that take the media reporting with pinch of salt. They are known to be wrong some times.
Be ever ready!
It pays to be ‘battle ready’ as ‘shahadat’ of Karkare, Kamte and Saluskar has proved. If one is in security duty, do not forget to secure self! No need to be over protective to the verge of being coward, but ensure that reasonable precautions are taken! Dead heroes are history whereas living ones are the national assets.
Remain in control of the situation…
Do not let the situation control you! NSG has proved it more eloquently. Soon after they took charge, not even for a minute it appeared to those watching the whole scene in front of TVs that they were loosing control. They never appeared to be hassled and at receiving end and throughout the operation maintained high level of professionalism. One of the cherubic NSG Commando when asked what was toughest part of operation, nonchalantly commented that “nothing is difficult or tough for them!”
Think out-of-the box!
The terrorists’ strategies can not be taught in the class room from training books. The conventional tactics and strategies are for the conventional warfare for conventional armed forces. Terrorists use almost every time the most audacious and impractical approach for that reasons alone! The security forces need to think out-of-the box! The water-front was not used by the terrorist as approach route so far. But it never was a guarantee for no future use by them. When they did use it, no one was prepared. We have to start thinking the ‘impossible’ as surely someone is capable to convert it into ‘possible’.
Security Force! No hurry, take time! But be timely!!
It takes time to acclimatize with the ground. No security force or commando operation can be undertaken without proper planning involving the reconnaissance of the area to have ‘feel of the ground’. Only fools rush-in! The deliberate and prudent planning takes time as failure endangers precious lives and no ready made ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution can be applied to all the situations. However once the course of action has been decided the entire operation must be conducted with time and precision.
Power of taking Decisions
The Political Leadership takes time to decide, in fact their specialization is in delaying the decision taking and therefore expecting quick or timely decision is asking for too much. It is time that the onus of taking the decision is divested from the politicians and invested to the head of “Anti-Terrorist Federal Agency”, which needs to be created sooner.
NSG Deployment.
If presently National Security Guard (NSG) is expected to handle terrorist strike, hostage situation etc. then why must it remain located in Delhi? If NSG is expected to react to any situation occurring in any part of India, then it must be strategically located in various well connected cities preferably the metropolises. By the time the NSG team reaches the site of their operation, the least local police can do is to barricade the area, ensure smooth traffic movement for ambulance and vehicles of security forces.
Reliable & Timely Communication
Communication through Ham Radios, ‘blogging’ and ‘twittering’ can be very important for common citizens as networks are known to jam in such situations. Keeping the citizens informed is very important in such situations as rumor-mongering will not only demoralize them but may cause another law-and-order problem which law enforcing agencies can ill afford at the time.
Don’t be naïve, we are the terrorists!
Very naively one of the leading English daily describes a typical ‘fidayeen’ as “armed with an assault AK-47 rifle, a 9 mm pistol and several Chinese made hand grenades, with spare bullet magazines in his pouches an knapsack, apart from dry fruits and other eatables to sustain ..” This caricature of fidayeen terrorist is far from truth. The terrorists are not like soldiers of conventional armed forces that they will be always in ‘battle order’ when in battle. They have in past and will be in future too ‘dressed for the occasions’! the terrorists will dress as per the time and location related to their action and will be equipped as per the need and as per the Just because terrorists this time were equipped and accoutered like this doesn’t mean they will be similarly seen in future also. Most likely they will be looking different for the reasons that their appearance of similar type will draw attention in future.
Media! Please don’t mess-up with security personnel!
The media people have to realize that even when they have important duty to perform, their duty is still not more important then that of security forces. In their eagerness of ‘me-first’ they sometimes enter the area where they have no business to be in. There presence in such situation not only hinders the activities of the security personnel, they also become the liabilities of those security personnel who were risking their own lives to save others. The foolhardiness of one such correspondent surely must not have missed the attention of TV viewers when some correspondent was shown telling with bravado of having gone to the area where from he was rescued by the NSG commandos!
Media Ethics, what is that?
The TV channels are known to have gone overboard in such situation in past and this time was also no exception. It was not appreciated by the TV channel while live telecasting the talk with the terrorist that it was almost verging at “offering a platform to espouse their cause”. A fact was overlooked by the channel that a ‘legitimate reporting duty’ of the channel may jeopardize the innocent lives, create law-and-order situation or incite some part of the society for more violence.
Credibility of Media News: Mom no homework!
Common people must understand the most of the media people are ‘generalist’ journalist and being in young as most of them are, are not suppose to know all, even when they pretend otherwise. Their reporting may not be factually accurate or they might not have recourse to cross check the veracity of the facts when reporting live. In one case Kamte was referred as ACP and Additional CP in same breath! In other case NSG Havaldar was referred as senior officer! In both the cases the reporters had shown their very poor knowledge of rank structure of police and armed forces. Understand the affect on the police force of the news of death of Additional Commissioner of Police Addl. CP) when actually Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) died. Similarly people will tend to agree more with the news when it is reported that sources of the information is very senior army officer were as it was actually a havaldar! So, morale is that take the media reporting with pinch of salt. They are known to be wrong some times.
*****
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