April - June 2010 - Bureau of Police Research and Development

anger has emanated against Pakistan after the recentattacks. In Pakistan some of the present daypurveyors of religion quote from Quran when theyexhort their followers to launch jihad against thenon-believers. Asghar Ali Engineer (2004, "Makinga Mockery of Jihad") has stated that the Muslimneeds to hear the voice of the moderate and not justthat of the extremist-fundamentalist.Owing to availability of sophisticated weaponry inthe international market, terrorism has becomeentrenched and accessible. In the foreseeablefuture, international terrorism and induced domesticterrorism will pose a greater danger to our nationalsecurity than a conventional war. The training ofthese militants for the cause of Islam enables themto target civilians brutally.Serious LapsesInability of the intelligence agencies to heed to theearly warnings of these impending terrorist activityvia the sea and the lack of co-ordinated follow upaction across the border to beef up the securityhas resulted in this carnage. The 11/26 episodealso reaffirms the lack of synchronized interactionbetween Indian's security agencies such as RAW,IB and the Army, Navy and other agencies. In factthey work at "cross purposes" (Hindustan Times,3/12/2008 p3). As Paul Wilkinson of the Universityof St. Andrews rightly opines, there was a seriousintelligence failure in Mumbai and home departmentcould have nipped this in the bud. It is astonishingto read about the casual attitude of ex-HomeMinister towards safety of people. 'RR Patil whowas supervising the rescue operation of terroristattack from his official residence was requestedby Cabinet Minister of Public Works Department tovisit the DGP office' (Mumbai Mirror, 28/11/08,page 3 ). To add salt to the wound of Mumbaikars,Patil's comment that "bade bade sharon mein aisechote chote hadse hote hi rehte hain"(MumbaiMirror, 30/11/08, page 11) needs to be reprimandedin the strongest manner possible. Would he havehad the same say if his own life was involved ?As far as terrorists are concerned, powerful securityregime is the need of the hour. At the national level,Budgetary Allocation for Prevention of CrimeA Flawed Model for Developmentthere is a need of a high-level anti-terrorist squad,which should have its branch in every state.Specialised training, sophisticated equipments andenhanced manpower and fire power will have to beprovided to the ATS in particular and the police forcein general. With the increasing sophistication ofinternational terrorism it is likely that they will resortto nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Whenthe police are accountable for the security of thecommon man and to implement the law of the land,the State has no option but to respect the policeforce who work for people's safety.Though the law and order situation in the countryhas deteriorated in general, the state of Maharashtrahas been fairly peaceful as compared to otherstates. What is significant is that the peace andsecurity has been conducive to the growth of tradeand industry in the city and positioned it as thefinancial capital of the country. The recent attackshave shattered this safe cocoon and the State hasdefinitely failed to safeguard the life and propertyof its citizens and these will have a detrimentaleconomic impact.Economic development is contingent on politicalstability, and terrorism is certainly destabilising. Theprocess of economic liberalisation and globalisationset in motion cannot be carried forward, if the statecannot guarantee the maintenance of law and order.Money seeks safe havens and given the currentscenario it will begin to flow out of Maharashtrainto new ventures elsewhere unless the state canrestore confidence in its investors.Skewed Police-Population RatioMaharashtra produces country's 19 percent ofindustrial output, 15 percent of service sector outputand about 13 percent of GDP. Her per capita incomeof Rs. 22,179 in 2000-01 makes it the third richeststate in India after Punjab and Haryana. The growthof services sector which largely comprises the neweconomy, contributed 8 percent to the economicgrowth of the state during 1997-98 and 2000-2001(GOM, 2003).In spite of having the distinction as an economicallyforward state, the Police-Population ratio is skewed.AbstractTerrorist attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai tookaway the precious livesof dedicated policeofficers. They died dueto deficient andobsolete equipmentprovided by the State.It is the need of thehour to providespecialised training,sophisticatedequipments andenhanced manpowerand fire power topolice.The Indian Police Journal Vol. LVII-No. 2, April-June, 2010 59➢