One Year After Mumbai Attacks, Questions Remain About Security

The 26/11 strikes went down as a moment when the tide turned against India in its long and demanding battle to stamp out terror. Changes in the security mindset and the premium put on strengthening internal security have been the immediate fallout of the attacks.

The trauma started on the night on Nov 26, 2008, when terrorists who came by boat from Pakistan sneaked into Mumbai to begin a 60-hour siege. At the end, more than 160 people were dead, nine of the 10 terrorists killed and India brought to its knees as horrified citizens watched masked gunmen take over its commercial capital.

One terrorist -- Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab -- was nabbed alive and is currently on trial.

Taking into account the country’s dismal record of struggling to put down terrorist violence, the security establishment has meanwhile at least been able to put in place basic protocols, strategies and tactics for an appropriate response.

Better intelligence coordination

For starters, making the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) - tasked with collecting intelligence in real time - fully operational has been perhaps the most tangible achievement that has been able to prevent terror strikes.

In the last 11 months, the government says it has been able to bust 31 terror modules. Optimising intelligence flow and coordination between different agencies has helped.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who took over after the terror strikes, explains the challenges before the country: "I am fully aware of the security situation and issues that have to be addressed. Terrorism, naxalite violence and insurgency in the north-east are the key challenges before the country."

Chidambaram's to-do list is a detailed one. To be ahead in the game against terror groups who are constantly changing their techniques and methods, the government realises that core policing must improve. The home minister advises the Mumbai police to focus on policing instead of talking to the media "out of turn".

Survivor does not feel safer

But despite all measures undertaken by the government to improve intelligence systems and improving both homeland and coastal security not everyone is satisfied.

Bishnu Mansukhani, a survivor from the 26/11 attacks says there has not been much visible improvement in the security situation: "One year on from those three terrible days I don't feel safer at all. The state, the center as well as the city police are all in denial over their bungling of the situation that led to so many unnecessary deaths. Kasab is the most secure individual in Mumbai right now. He is more secure than I am."

For long India has managed to absorb the shocks of terrorism attacks and move ahead. The loud message behind 26/11 is that there can be no more business as usual.

Author: Murali Krishnan (New Delhi)
Editor: Thomas Bärthlein