Let’s not wait till Bangalore bleeds

Let’s not wait till Bangalore bleeds
H S BALRAM


First, Delhi bore the brunt of terror attacks. Then Mumbai reeled under them. Hyderabad followed. Is Bangalore the next? Doesn’t the very thought scare us? But the threat cannot be brushed aside. The bitter truth is that Bangalore is a soft target for terrorists, what with its top global IT companies, defence installations, science and technological institutions, and major PSUs. It is one of the world’s fastest growing cities. Its economy is booming. The city needs to be protected. It is sitting on a ticking bomb.
By airing our fears, aren’t we alerting the terrorists and exposing the city to attacks? We hear people posing this question. But isn’t it better to take preventive measures than being caught unawares? Those who spread terror aren’t naive. They plan their strategies well, mingle with the local populace, do their recce and then strike. In contrast, our security forces are often found wanting in alertness, good intelligence network, fool-proof preventive measures, adequate manpower, modern weaponry and sophisticated gadgets. Added to this is the lack of political will.
We need to learn a lesson from the US. After 9/11, it imposed stringent security measures. Many termed them brute and harsh. There were unpleasant scenes at airports, where people were
subjected to humiliating frisking. CCTVs kept
surveillance at rail and bus stations, markets,
shopping malls, hotels and places of worship. Policemen were kept on their toes. Citizens were educated against suspicious elements and unattended objects. One felt the Americans had become paranoid. But it worked. There has not been an attack on the US soil since then.
What do we prefer? Tough measures that help us live in a safe environment? Or a liberal approach that doesn’t guarantee security of life? Obviously, the former. This is not to say that we should press the panic button. It’s time we pulled our socks up and worked on a mechanism to act against terror. How long can we remain mute spectators to killing of innocents at regular intervals? India has lost more lives to terror than any other country in the world, except Iraq. Our record in bringing the perpetrators to book has been abysmal so far. We run around in circles after every attack and go back to sleep till another attack wakes us up.
Take the attack on the IISc campus two years ago. It was the first terror-related incident that Bangalore witnessed. It sent a chill down the spine. Till today, it is not clear who did it. The police keep naming the usual suspect outfits, particularly those connected with terror in Kashmir. The motive is still not known. No one has been picked up. The case is as good as closed. An anti-terror terror cell, set up after the attack, is yet to get teeth.
We received another shock later. Two terrorists were nabbed in Mysore. Guess what they had with them, apart from weapons and ammunition? A blueprint of Bangalore with key targets clearly marked. What did the interrogation of the two reveal? Did they have any local connections? If yes, was anyone picked up? The police have not been able to make any breakthrough.
Next came a rude jolt. Glasgow airport bomber Kafeel Ahmed was found to be a Bangalorean. The local connection to global terror was established with his arrest in the UK. It was learnt that he had conducted several meetings in Bangalore prior to leaving for the UK and had spoken of jihad. The city police remained ignorant of the arrest till it made headlines in the media. After an initial inquiry, the police have gone into the silence mode. None of those who attended his meetings on jihad has been identified and questioned. No sincere efforts have been made to spot jihadi elements, who may have mixed with the locals. No steps have been taken to involve resident associations and community leaders to create an awareness among citizens against terror groups.
And, how has the government reacted to the shadow of terror on Bangalore? Lukewarm. Rather, terror appears to be the last on its agenda. Coalition partners are busy running each other down, and moving heaven and earth to hold on to power. There is no one to listen to police demands for more staff, vehicles, weapons, ammunition and gadgets. The intelligence set-up too lacks men and infrastructure. Before it is too late, those at the helm must wake up. Terrorist designs on Bangalore should not be allowed to succeed.