Seven years on, Mumbai awaits better security

Experts want better intelligence, modern arms for police

It was business as usual in this city on the seventh anniversary of the terrorists’ attack on November 26, 2008.

A wedding procession was in full swing at the fishermen’s colony near Cuffe Parade from where 10 terrorists had entered that night and, after moving in groups into the city, opened fire indiscriminately at people, killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, beside damaging much property.

Families of the bride and bridegroom said the day was chosen to pay tribute to those hit and to send the message that the show must go on. Many tourists from India and abroad had gathered at the Gateway of India to take a look at the Taj hotel, another site where the terrorists had killed inmates.

SAFER TOMORROW

Promises made post 26/11

• Installation of more than 5000 CCTVs across Greater Mumbai
   
• Supply of bullet proof jackets to security personnel
   
• Recruitment in key police departments

Achievements/unfulfilled promises

• About 950 CCTVs to be installed at some locations in first week of December
   
• Training at the police station level for intelligence gathering yet to be improved
   
• Several posts lying vacant in security related cells. But FORCE One was formed and NSG set up Mumbai unit to counter similar strikes

At the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, commuters joined in a tribute to the security officials killed.

Krishna Tare, 75, who’d lost a relative on that occasion, was unhappy at the lack of interface between security agencies and the public, for countering like attacks. “At CST, the government needs to upgrade security measures which are still missing. Beside, the government will have to provide modern weapons and gadgets to the police. The presence of security and police personnel should be felt,” he said.

At the 26/11 memorial site at the Police Gymkhana, state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government would give better equipment to the police. However, former police commissioner R D Tyagi says nothing substantial had been done after that event. “The government has created a special police cell, Force One, and the National Security Guard has set up its city unit.

However, they will have to be provided with modern weapons, helicopters. Force One personnel and other security personnel will have to be posted at locations from where they can speedily reach a site where a terrorist attack has taken place. Besides, the government will have to put in place a policy for the use of arms and weapons by civil police.”

He expressed disappointment at the lack of urgency in installation of closed-circuit TVs across the city.

Security expert Shirish Inamdar said the Force One and trained NSG personnel here were world-class. The government was alsoy implementing other measures, including registration of all fisherfolk going into the sea and providing them with identity cards. “However, this is not enough. Intelligence gathering at the police station level will have to be further upgraded, with more training facilities.” Also Centre and state must strengthen cyber and electronic intelligence, he said, apart from “pysychological warfare.”