Terrorism
Three days that changed the world
Having suffered terror attacks in one city after another in 2007-2008 – Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Delhi, Bangalore, the country had a catharsis moment on November 26, 2008, when the country’s financial capital came under siege of heavily armed terrorists opening fire at several locations, and took hold of Taj and Oberoi hotels and Nariman House, a Jewish residence. It took the security forces three days to secure back these places from terrorist control. The audacity of the terrorists was there for the whole world to see – the entire operation was telecast live on all channels all those days.
The city, which had earlier suffered the serial train blasts in July 2006, and that once took its fame as the city that goes on, said ‘enough was enough’. The anger and veering off of patience palpable among Mumbaikars, who booed the politicians who came consoling the Mumbaikars and slammed film maker Ram Gopal Verma when he went visiting the aftermath of terror strike at the Taj along with chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, in what came to be dubbed as ‘terror tourism’.
The developments, as they unfolded
It began around nine in the evening, on November 26. Terrorists came from the sea route to Mumbai and went on a rampage in various parts of the city - Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Leopold Café, hotels Trident and Oberoi, Nariman House, Cama Hospital and other places. One hundred and seventy six people lost their lives and hundreds were left injured. Leopold Café was the first to be attacked where 10 people were killed. Then came CST, which receives 27 lakhs of people every day! Due to the three-day saga that went on in Oberoi and Taj, CST got ignored. But it registered one of the highest casualties in terror attacks in recent times.
It is imperative to mention presence of mind of the railway announcer who asked passengers to remain inside the trains as coming out on the station due to panic that could cost them their lives.
Nariman House, a Jewish Centre was also attacked. Six of its occupants, including Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka were killed. Their two-year old son Moshe was rescued by his Indian nanny, Sandra Samuel.
What unfolded in the next three days impacted deeply the psyche of many of us. The terrorists took the two hotels under their control and launched a gun battle against residents, staff, visitors and police. It was evident that no place is safe. Many who’s who of the country and a number of foreigners were killed either by the terrorists or the fire that broke out in Taj.
The subsequent reactions and events have taken the terror attack much beyond the immediate loss of lives and property. In terms of policy it has led to passing of stringent anti-terror laws. In the wake of the attack a meeting of chief ministers of all the states took place, which was presided by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh himself. It discussed security issues and Union government received “total and unconditional” support from all the CMs in carrying on the fight against terrorism.
Among the heads to roll were those of Vilasrao Deshmukh, Maharashtra chief minister, and Shivraj Patil, Union home minister.
Wake up time
The Lok Sabha passed two Bills — the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2008 and the other one to set up a National Investigation Agency (NIA) — in wake of increasing terrorism in the country. An independent body of judicial experts would be set up to review cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) law before granting sanction for prosecution. According to the sources, the government attempted to strike a balance between the requirements of law, and principles of natural justice, fair trial and human rights.
P Chidambaram, Union home minister, claimed that these laws would restore the confidence of the people.
The amendment bill has deterrent provisions such as detention without bail for up to 180 days and the enhanced penalty of life imprisonment for those involved in terror. Shifting the onus of proof to the accused related only to definitive evidence like blood samples and fingerprints gathered from the scene of offence.
The setting up of NIA has been long due as activities like militancy, insurgency, naxalism, and terror attacks have complex inter-state and international linkages and possible connection with activities such as smuggling of arms and drugs and circulation of fake Indian currency and infiltration. An agency at the central level can deal in such cases more effectively and efficiently as compared to regional governments and police.
Pak response
Journalists of various media groups traced the origins of Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab’, the lone surviving gunman of Mumbai blasts, to Pakistan. It was only after 42 days of the attacks that Pakistan’s national security advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani said that there was a possibility of Kasab being a Pakistani national. But the same day he was sacked. Amidst many speculations, the Pakistani government said that it sacked the NSA because he did not take the government into confidence before leaking the news to press and denied PM Yousuf Raza Gilani of taking the credit for breaking the news.
India provided a detailed dossier to the international community on the blasts. It was shared with the 14 nations whose citizens were victims of the event. But Pakistan showed its reservations stating that the White Paper provided only information, and not credible evidence. Outgoing US ambassador to India, David C Mulford came in support of India saying that the evidence is credible. China also asked India and Pakistan to de-escalate the tensions.
Earlier, Taliban said that it will fully support the Pakistani army in case any aggression against India is needed. But it was condemned by the liberal press and organisations of Pakistan. Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari stated, “The world has to realise that we also suffer from terrorism as much as other countries.”
Pakistan’s intentions again became unclear when Lahore High Court released Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of Mumbai terror attack, on grounds of insufficient evidence. India was visibly upset at this turn of events, even though several experts voiced their view that this would not affect the 26/11 trial. Many feel that the Pak government just didn’t pursue the case relentlessly, providing the necessary proofs, which would have nailed the radical leader.
Sports suffers
Indian cricket team decided not to visit Pakistan in the wake of terror strikes and alleged role of Pakistani outfits in them. The government cited prevailing conditions as the reason in a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). “Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore, immediately after,” asked youth affairs and sports minister MS Gill.
Pakistan’s leading cricketers were also not allowed to travel to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) because of the government’s concerns over security, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. Saleem Altaf, PCB chief operating officer, said the foreign ministry had written to the board advising it not to send Pakistani players to India for any IPL event.
“We have informed the IPL and Indian board that our players can’t take part in the IPL this year,” Altaf confirmed. Around a dozen Pakistani cricketers are signed up with different franchises in the IPL while five others, including leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, were entered in a players’ auction for 2009 edition of IPL.
Zero tolerance zone
The attack brought to an end all the dialogue the two countries were having, with India insisting that Pakistan show enough proof of action against the terrorists involved in the operation. In June, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, meeting Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, gave out a strong message: “My mandate is to tell you that Pakistan territory should not be used for terrorism against India,” A startled Zardari replied, “Let them (journalists) go”, before he would agree to talk in detail. This was the first time the two leaders met after the Mumbai attack. They also agreed on foreign secretary-level talks in end June/early July, a first step in breaking the ice between the two countries that had ended dialogue after the dastardly terror strike.
Give some, take none
The meeting between the two leaders in Egypt added another angle to the relations between the two countries. All these months, India insisted that Pak action against terrorism, particularly against the minds behind 26/11, is the first condition for resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan. Within eight months the stand reversed as a joint statement following the meeting of the two heads of states during the Nonaligned Movement (NAM) conclave in Egypt points out. The statement reads, “Action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process and these should not be bracketed.” In return, Pakistan has just promised to do “everything in its power” to prevent use of its soil for anti-India terror activities. Despite intelligence on further attacks being planned against India on, and despite the recent admission of Pak President Asif Ali Zardari that Pakistan had "created and nurtured" terrorists to achieve some short-term tactical objectives, the statement is silent on January 2004 promise given by Pak that it will not allow it’s territory to be used for terror activities against India. The second area where India has ceded ground is inclusion of Baluchistan trouble in future talks. Contrary to what Indian officials promise that the dialogue will only touch on terrorism, the Baluch trouble implies that the stage is now set for a broader dialogue.
Terror elsewhere
Five people were killed and over 50 injured on New Year’s Day as serial blasts rocked Guwahati city. Three explosions rocked the north-eastern city which were said to be masterminded by ULFA. ULFA’s 709 battalion was allegedly behind the blasts, which wanted to show its presence ahead of P Chidambaram’s visit, police said. Meanwhile, an ULFA leader and a prime accused in the blasts, who was said to be absconding, was shot dead by the police. Pranjol Deka was 20-years-old and was a hardcore member of the 709 battalion of ULFA. The Assam police had released his photograph a day after the blasts.
Assam was rocked again in April when Guwahati, Dhekiajuli, Karbi Anglong and Mankachar faced bomb blasts on the eve of visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Eight people were killed while 63 were injured. The outlawed United Liberation front of Asom (ULFA) is suspected to be behind the blasts. The blasts were carried out by throwing grenades and placing bombs in motorcycles and bicycles. There were substantial intelligence inputs that the ULFA will attack ahead of its ‘raising day’. But the Assam police failed yet again to ensure safety to the common persons. The maximum damage was caused by the explosion in Maligaon which claimed at least six lives besides leaving over 50 people injured. The agitated public hurled empty bottles and pelted stones on the police and even tried to cause damage to the fire-brigade, alleging slow rescue work.
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