Govt glosses over security needs as threat lingers on

Govt glosses over security needs as threat lingers on
The Times of India



Bangalore: For over six months, the police force has been making a case for a beefed up force ready to handle any security threat. But it took a terrorist attack for the government to finally acknowledge the need for one. Last week chief minister Dharam Singh promised to set up a task force. How soon this will actually fructify needs to be seen — considering the number of proposals that have remained just that.

Consider these:
July 20, 2005: Following intelligence inputs that Bangalore is under the terror scanner, police commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh made a presentation to the chief minister and other top-brass in Vidhana Soudha on how to strengthen security in the city.

Soon after the attack on Parliament, a police team comprising the then Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) S K Banerjee and the then DCP (Central) Gopal B Hosur visited New Delhi and prepared a blueprint on how to beef up security around Vidhana Soudha with Central Industrial Security Force help.

A committee comprising three retired DGPs — Ramalingam, T Madiyal and M D Singh — was formed by the Dharam Singh government. It submitted a report on how to restructure the police force to face latest challenges on the security front.

In view of reports on poor policing around IT companies located in Electronic City under the Bangalore district police limits, the then home minister Mallikarjun M Kharge announced that these areas would be handed over to the city police. Formation of a southeast zone in the city was mooted, which was given the cabinet’s nod prior to the Assembly elections.

A year ago, chief minister N Dharam Singh, who also holds the home portfolio announced in the legislature that the staff strength of the city police would be enhanced and 2,500 police constables would be appointed.

All these proposals are gathering dust in the corridors of power.

“Bangalore has come under the terror scanner. A security lapse at the IISc on December 28 has exposed the level of preparedness on the part of the state police. Empty rhetoric and knee-jerk reactions will not help. The state government, especially chief minister Dharam Singh who holds the home portfolio, has to do some serious business in clearing these proposals,’’ a retired DGP opined.

Policemen in hi-tech city go around the city doing day and night beats carrying World War II 303 rifles. These rifles can handle chaku-wielding budding neighbourhood rowdies, not terrorists armed with AK-56, he added. “The need of the hour is to strengthen the intelligence network. This being the case, they transferred 11 inspectors from the short-staffed state intelligence department last week and failed to post others in their place. This is an example of the lack of seriousness of the government,’’ a senior officer commented.

Meanwhile, state police chief B S Sial has proposed to set up a separate force to handle terror activities on the lines of the elite National Security Guards (NSG). The Police Commissioner has requested the state government to clear all pending proposals and sanction additional staff. The city police are expecting major funds under the Union government’s mega city plan under which Bangalore and four other metros have been selected. Under the plan, importance will be given to modernisation of the police force.