State has learnt lessons in security

Post 26/11, Govt Invested In Intelligence, Arms & Training

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: The Maharashtra police appears to have learnt some lessons from the 26/11 terror strike.

Soon after the attack, which was termed as an intelligence failure, the state government, for instance, announced an examination to recruit personnel for a dedicated intelligence wing in the state police.

In 2009, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), which conducts examination for recruiting police personnel, inducted 950 police personnel for the state intelligence department (SID). Their primary task involves intelligence gathering across Maharashtra.

Before this drive, the SID had only one thousand personnel across the state, a number which was grossly inadequate for the state’s population of 10 crores.

“The recruits have been asked to learn at least one foreign or a state language other than English and Marathi,’’ revealed an official from the security forces.

Before the 26/11 attacks, the Intelligence Bureau had received information about 35 mobile SIM cards which were sent to Pakistan in 2008. It, however, could not monitor these numbers — four of which were used by the 10 Pakistani terrorists during the attacks.

In order to avoid such serious lapses, a senior police officer said that recently, another plan for an intelligence coordination system has been introduced in the city. “In every police station, a policeman has been entrusted with the job of coordinating with the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and the crime branch in terms of getting inputs about terror-related cases.’’

Earlier, few policemen would practise firing at a firing range. Post 26/11, though, the policemen from all the 90 police stations, specialised branches, side branches, protection unit and armed forces are regularly sent for firing practice. The older weapons have been replaced with advanced and sophisticated ones. The city police purchased an arms and explosive detecting vehicle, fire-proof vehicles and is in the process of purchasing a robot which could fight terrorists at such places where entry for policemen may be difficult.

“Post 26/11, the city police has formed a quick response team (QRT) squad in all the five regions and mock drills are being conducted on a regular basis so that they get familiarised with the areas and reach in the shortest time in case there is an untoward incident,’’ said the officer.

TERROR BOAT: The seized dinghy used by the terrorists kept at the Cuffe Parade police station

The Times of India, May 5, 2010