Why metros are soft terror targets

New Delhi: Parliament, Red Fort, crowded markets, cinema halls, different important installations, and now Mumbai local trains - the targets of terrorism over the past years have again and again higlighted the vulnerablity of metropolitan cities in India.

Delhi as the capital of India, has remained Target No.1. As the centre of power with a huge media presence, even a small blast in Delhi can create a big impact. Being home to lakhs of illegal immigrants, Delhi also gives terrorists the anonymity they need.

Delhi is often treated as the centre from where all operations are worked out. The Varanasi blasts were a perfect example of terrorists using Delhi as their base.

Says former director of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), B Raman, "Delhi being the capital, any attack is the biggest news. And ultimately this is what terrorists are looking for. Delhi is the ultimate theatre for them."

In Kolkata, the American Centre was the target of terror on January 22, 2003. Kolkata because among all the metros, it is considered most disadvantaged geographically.

With a long and porous international border with Bangladesh, it is not only easy for terrorists to smuggle in arms to the city, they can also easily become a part of the population without being noticed.

DCP (HQ) Kolkata, P K Chattopadhyaya says, "Because of the geographical and topographical nature of Kolkata - a close and porous border with Bangladesh and other countries - there is a possibility of people just slinking into the state."

In Bangalore, the Indian Institute of Sciences was the target of terror on December 28, 2005.

Bangalore remains another potential target of terror due to the city's status as the Silicon Valley of India. The presence of many big multinational IT companies makes the city a perfect soft target.

Also, any such incidence in Bangalore always creates a big impact - both at national and international levels.

Bangalore also shares a border with Hyderabad, a city said to be a base for sympathisers of terror outfits. One of the accused in the IISC terror attack was arrested near Hyderabad.

Police Commissioner Bangalore, Neelam Achyuta Rao says, "Bangalore is a good target because of it's sheer size."

Hyderabad, too, is considered another soft target for terror in view of its growing status as an IT hub. While the city hasn't had any instance of a terrorist attack as yet, it does have a huge base of home-grown sympathisers to various foreign and local millitant outfits and that makes the city vulnerable to terrorism.

The SIMI, which has been suspected to be behind the serial blasts in Mumbai, has a huge presence in Hyderabad. Many militants make Hyderabad their home. Some even marry there so as to keep any kind of suspicion at bay.

Commissioner, Hyderabad, A K Mohanty says, "Terrorists may be finding shelter here and the annonymity of the city may be helping them merge with the surroundings and the people."

In view of the fact that these cities are situated through the length and bredth of the country, experts suggest that there should be a nodal agency to coordinate between the police and the intelligence bureaus of all the states. Only this might ensure that there is no repeat of 7/11.

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