#Bombayphile How Prepared Is Mumbai To Prevent Hamas Like Terror Attack?

Some people may find it absurd to compare Mumbai with Tel Aviv in the context of terrorism. The biggest terrorist attack on Israel was from all fronts: air, sea and land. Over 5,000 rockets were launched to target buildings in Israel and the terrorists used paragliders to land at public places and massacre people. Hundreds of Israelis were abducted on gunpoint. Although Mumbai has endured some of the biggest terrorist attacks in India, none of them have been of this magnitude. However, Mumbai continues to be on the radar of terrorists and one question that comes to my mind is, how safe is Mumbai from Hamas like attack?

From 11 March 1993 to 11 July 2011, Mumbai has witnessed over 10 terrorist incidents in which around 700 people have been killed and over two thousand have been injured. The attack on 26 November 2008 was the last big terror attack on Mumbai, not in terms of the number of people killed, but, due to the multiplicity of the locations and the number of hours it stretched. There are some parallels between the attack on Israel and Mumbai. After the terrorist attack at Kalbadevi on 14 September 1946, it was the first attack where the gunmen landed at public places and indiscriminately shot people. In the 26/11 attacks, the terrorists had captured two seven star hotels, attacked Mumbai’s prime railway station and a hospital. The Jewish cultural centre at Colaba was also one of the targeted locations. They planted bombs in two taxis which exploded at Wadi Bunder and Juhu. There were hostage situations at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Trident Hotel, and Nariman House. At Trident and Nariman House, most of the hostages were killed. It took 59 hours for the National Security Guard (NSG) to clear all the locations by eliminating the infiltrators, but not before the Chief of Anti-Terrorist Squad, two commandos and many policemen were slain.

Just like Mossad is being held responsible for intelligence failure, the Indian security establishment too failed in preempting the attacks, although they had got a whiff that Pakistan-based terrorists are planning to infiltrate via the sea route. There were few intelligence reports sent to the Mumbai Police alerting about the imminent attacks. The attacks also posed a question about the efficiency to the coastal security agencies. Undoubtedly, it was a warlike situation and neither the intelligence agencies nor the Mumbai Police anticipated the level of attacks. But the concern now is whether the security apparatus is prepared to deal with another 26/11 type attack or the one orchestrated by Hamas in Isreal, which is much bigger in magnitude. I have covered those attacks on ground and have followed the aftermath. During the last fifteen years, I have reported several times on the Mumbai's vulnerability to terrorist attacks. I still find the city vulnerable and its counter-terror preparedness is down at an alarming level.

A few years back, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had published a damning report on Mumbai’s coastal security. After the attacks, as a knee-jerk reaction, the state government spent millions of rupees in procuring speed boats, jet ski and amphibian vehicles for the coastal security. However, within a few years, most of them were defunct due to lack of maintenance and unavailability of replacement for the malfunctioning parts. The adequate supply of diesel was another issue. Once a policeman deployed on a patrolling boat fell into the sea and was drowned. It was revealed that most of the cops on duty in the coastal security units weren’t skilled in swimming. However, evening boat parties at the Gateway of India have been restricted due to the “terror threat”. Today, at most of the railway stations, one can see door-frame-metal-detectors and X-Ray machines to check luggage, but there aren’t enough personnel to man them. Most of the measures taken up in the name of security after 26/11 have sadly been eye wash.  

After the 26/11 attacks, the Ram Pradhan Committee was set up to investigate the attack and to suggest measures to tighten up the security. However, nothing concrete has been done on their recommendations. The only positive development that I could see is that Mumbai now has three kinds of commando forces deployed in the city. First is the QRT (Quick Response Team) of Mumbai Police, the second is the Force One of the state police and the third is NSG, which has opened a regional headquarter in Mumbai. In case of a terror attack, the QRT would be the first responder. However, these commando forces would be required only when an attack happens, but what has been done to preempt another attack? Obviously, everything couldn’t be revealed for public consumption. I trust that the intelligence and security agencies have learnt their lessons and Mumbai is safe from evil eyes.

(Bombayphile is published every week where Jitendra Dixit writes about the past and the present of Mumbai.)