26/11: Three years on, no lessons learnt?

Mumbai: It has been three years since the worst terror attack on Indian soil. Mumbai was under siege for almost three days that left 170 people dead. It was a tough battle for Mumbai's police as they took on heavily armed terrorists with nothing more than archaic rifles exposing security loopholes. But the question remains whether we have learnt our lessons since 26/11.

Stunning stories of bravery and heroism in the line of duty couldn't hide the ugly reality of an ailing police force.

Post 26/11, the Maharashtra government has spent well over Rs 100 crore on police modernisation. It now has its own elite commandos, the Force One, trained on the lines of the National Security Guards. The commandos, along with the Quick Response Team will be the first respondents to another 26/11 style attack. A range of sophisticated weapons and protective gear has also been procured along with urban combat vehicles.

Intelligence sharing and co-ordination has also improved and so has the response time, as seen after the 13/7 serial bombings. But, failure to crack that very same serial blasts' case and the Pune German Bakery blast points to the serious manpower crunch.

The state Anti-terrorism Squad was sanctioned 90 Sub-inspectors, but 80 posts are lying vacant. Same goes with senior positions like ACPs and DCPs. The ATS is almost 40 per cent short of staff. Even the city police is deficient of more than 1500 officers.

Also, a Maharashtra government letter to the Centre, sent just 3 days after the 13/7 blasts, underscores the urgency of ammunition supplies with a long list of requirements stuck in red tape. Even the much talked-about CCTV camera network for the city hasn't been implemented, leaving several crowded places unmonitored. In fact, the Bombay High Court recently lambasted the government's lax approach to security and lack of action on the Ram Pradhan Panel report.

It said, '"Imminent danger is writ large. Whatever procedures you adopt, it must be prompt. People would like to know what is the situation at the ground level. After all, it is urgent, sensitive and deals with security of the state."

Post 9/11, USA averted at least 30 terror plots on its soil and private government initiatives became the hallmark of its anti-terror model, the same was recommended by the Pradhan Panel post 26/11, but terming it a classified document, the government has protected it even from public scrutiny.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)