Mumbai Targetted, Again

Mumbai was targeted by terrorists yet again. This is "26/11", India's "9/11" they say. Hold on though. What about the following:

"25/8" - Aug 25, 2003: 46 people killed in two blasts including one near the Gateway of India.

"11/7" - July 11, 2006: More than 200 people killed in seven blasts on suburban trains and stations.

This is just the latest in a series of terrorist attacks. And sadly, I have a fair idea of what is going to happen next.

The whole rigmarole of post terror attacks events will play out over the next few days. Public sentiment will go from shock to anger to callously indifferent. Politicians will "condemn" the "heinous act of terror". Gurus, Sadhus, Priests, Maulavis and other religious figures will say that these terrorists have no religion and that no religion condones terror. There will be calls for the Prime Minister and/or The Home Minister to resign. Stock Market analysts and Business Leaders will say the the terror attacks though unfortunate, will have no long-term impact on the Indian economy. Bollywood will simple say, "The show must go on". The Government will award compensation at he rate of Rs x/dead and Rs y/injured. Claims of a "breakthrough" in the investigation will be made, some suspects will be rounded up and paraded before the media to assuage public anger. In a few weeks and months the incident will drop out public memory and things will be back to "normal" till the next attack.

Do I seem too cynical? I don't think so. I am just being realistic. I am angry and disgusted at the state of affairs. The Central Government Cabinet will meet to take stock of the situation. What they will actually discuss is how badly this terror attack will impact them during the ongoing state elections. The opposition will gleefully campaign on this during the next Lok Sabha elections which are due in the next 6 months. The Police will arrest some people and many years later most of them will be acquitted due to lack of evidence.

I am sick and tired of this. I want to see terrorists being convicted, better yet I would like to see terrorist attacks foiled and the terrorists apprehended BEFORE the attack. I don't want brave security personnel to lose their lives simply because the Government was unable to equip them with bullet-proof jackets. I find it hard to understand why so many bomb blasts and terrorists attacks later the security of Mumbai is still not as stringent as it could be. The media glosses over the "spirit of Mumbai" that rises up the day after every senseless attack and then ... NOTHING. Life goes on like nothing happened for those of us who don't lose someone we love.

I would like some one to answer this simple question - How are such large-scale, multi-location, coordinated attacks carried out with military precision right under the nose of the Police and the Indian Intelligence Agencies? If terrorists can arrive in boats through Gateway Of India and launch such a large-scale attack in the commercial capital of the nation, it really says abysmal things about the nation's homeland security.

Mumbai and its citizens are resilient, but we are not and don't want to be sitting-ducks. Jai Hind !!