Who is responsible?
JP SHARMA joined the Indian Police Service in 1954 and served in senior positions in Rajasthan, Delhi, J&K and abroad before retiring in 1988. A founder member of the Association of Retired Senior IPS Officers, he has written several articles on India`s security, governance, Islam, Pakistan and international relations.
The deadly spate of terrorist blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad and the timely discovery of cars laden with bomb making materials averting a repeat performance in Surat have once again turned the spotlight on the threat to the security and economic prosperity of the country.
Special: Ahmedabad Blasts | Bangalore Blasts
More than 500 people have lost their lives in terrorist attacks during the last three years. Not one of these cases has been successfully investigated. The media is quick to pin the blame on “Intelligence Failure”. Central and state security agencies often blame each other. The Government of India routinely issues statements condemning the attacks, praising the spirit of inhabitants of the hit town, reiterating its resolve to bring the offenders to book, announcing compensation to victims, some VIPs visit the affected areas and then it is business as usual.
The same pattern keeps on being repeated with sickening regularity. Can we hope for something better?
The fact that our preventive and detective agencies have not been successful in preventing terrorist attacks nor in getting adequate proof against the alleged perpetrators of the attacks makes it clear that our capabilities to prevent and detect terrorist attacks are severely inadequate. We have been facing terrorism for almost two decades now, and should have known what needs to be done.
It is time that these questions are asked and our rulers made to answer.
Image: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (3R) and Gujarat Chief Minister Narinder Modi (L) arrive at the site of the bomb blast at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on July 28, 2008. At least 49 people were killed and over 160 wounded 26 July in a string of more than a dozen coordinated bomb attacks in the tinderbox western Indian city of Ahmedabad, officials said. Image copyright AFP. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
