India Respond!

Militancy has rocked different parts of India for more than two decades now. But the brazen attacks on Mumbai in November have taken these despicable and dastardly acts of terrorism to a whole new level.What shocked the world at large was the way in which these antisocial elements carried out such a sophisticated and coordinated operation with precision and without any remorse inflicting maximum damage to human life. Almost 183 people dead and hundreds injured, property worth millions destroyed, add to it the threat inflicted on collective conscience of a country of billion that they are not in a safe zone.That it can take just a bunch of gunmen to wreck havoc and hold the entire nation on tenterhooks. In all aspects this event was the 9/11 of India.

Having said that what is of prime significance now is the way in which this crisis was dealt with and steps taken by the Government of India to prevent any such occurrence in future. Reportedly the National Security Guard (NSG) – the elite force trained specifically to deal with emergency situation like these reached the besieged hotels nine hours after the terrorists unleashed terror in there.Apparently these men had no maps while the militants were not only well-equipped with satellite phones and google-earth cds but were very well versed with the hotel layout. Quite unthinkable in these times that the nation's commando force was not armed with latest gadgets nor had the hotel maps to refer to. One can't but help compare the situation to US where every town and community would have its multi-dimension maps with exit routes even at basic level. Given the exposure this event received in the west, including in-depth coverage of the siege and the huge security lapses it's going to be tough to get Westerners to travel to India for business or otherwise.

There are plenty of lessons that India can learn from US who has had its ordeal with terrorism. From the way the entire operation was handled to reactions of the politicians to post-event crisis management has drawn flak from all over. Policemen without security vests using obsolete pistols were evidently no match for the fully armed terrorists loaded with hand grenades and AK-47s.This was a bloodied and rude wakeup call for a reform in the entire system from bringing in professionalism in the police department to creating super-efficient intelligence agency, which can counter the evils of 21st century and help in quelling these forces before they get away with their malicious intents.

Another dimension to this whole event is the alleged involvement of the cross-border militants who have given sleepless nights to half of the world with their terror network. The entire subcontinent was never so vulnerable as it is now with nations armed with nuclear arsenals.How strong a stand India takes remains to be seen. It would largely depend on the UPA government as to whether it concedes to US pressure and doesn't go on an offensive against Pakistan or talks tough with its neighboring country.With the impending general elections it won't come as a surprise if the incumbent party bears the brunt.

It goes without saying that the investments and travel to India will take a beating too unless India takes unprecedented security measures and regains the confidence of the world.

However what most Indians fear the most is the short public memory. Bomb blasts have rocked several parts of the country in recent past yet life limped back to normal the day next and relegating the pain and trauma of the victims to the backburner by the majority. It won't be an exaggeration to say that the US has still not gotten over the 9/11.And that's perhaps the reason why no terrorist attack has taken place on American soil since then. High time India took a leaf from the US anti-terrorism practices.

- Editor