Pune Terror Attack: Available Intelligence not Actionable Enough?

India was attacked again; this time – on 13th Feb’10 - the city on terrorists’ radar was Pune, almost a twin city of Bombay. And this happened in spite of the “actionable intelligence” available with the concerned authorities. In fact, the intelligence available was so glaring and clear that in order to have ignored it completely must have been a monumental task for the people concerned. Only last week Pune was mentioned – publicly – in LeT’s/JuD’s massive rally in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, held primarily to press their anti-India point, as a sure target for their attack. And the television footage/newspaper transcripts were available with all concerned in India, besides the other relevant and related intelligence reports provided by the indigenous agencies.

Still India kept sleeping. But, why? Nobody knows the answer for sure. Nor is anybody hopeful of getting a credible explanation from the ever-sleepy state government or even the now active Home Ministry.

Without towing the usual line – almost clichéd as far as terror attacks are concerned – of discussions or debates, I want to simply put this point across that when will India acquire a “zero-tolerance” attitude towards terrorism? Like every earlier time post Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks, this time too India is almost muted in voicing its protest. Our country once again is exhibiting its lack of courage in denying the “talking” opportunity – actually cementing our neighbour’s “denial” platform further - to Pakistan which is being paraded in the garb of the so-called resuming of the so-called peace-process-through-dialogues.

India for sure is acting under the US pressure in this regard. My question is: Can’t India hold its stand strongly enough so as not to succumb to any international diplomatic pressures, US’ included, till Pakistan actually “walked its talk” on its fight against terror emanating from within its boundaries? Do we really need to talk to Pakistan, so desperately?

But, then, talk for what?

Haven’t we already talked enough in the past sixty years? Or is it only a charade being put up by India in order to gag the geopolitical hawks – US included – and keep them off its shoulder and in fact keep going with the efforts and pressure on Pakistan for stopping cross-border terrorism?

Even if the answer to the last question is “yes”, my objection is in India getting re-positioned as a “soft” state – and a target for terror, therefore – when it is supposed to be “poised” for superpowerdom. Repeated terror strikes and India’s awfully “soft” and inconsistent responses make it seem hugely vulnerable and highly incompetent for the global leadership role.

Still, the diplomatic pundits in the government want to go ahead with the resumption of the so-called peace talks with Pakistan. Well, I can only say, All The Best. But just remember the GOI: All is not well in India.

On 14th Feb – Valentine’s Day - when the entire world was talking about spreading love, India was battling, once again, the aftermath of yet another terror attack. Unfortunately, India seems to be fast getting used to it. For India, Enough is still not Enough.

God save India.

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I had always wondered – actually wished! – why should The Newshour have only 60 minutes? Today, with its special edition, the Newshour did stretch to 120 minutes and it was a pleasant surprise to see it getting aired on a Sunday evening. But honestly, its millions of dedicated viewers will vouch that we had never wanted our wish to come true in this unfortunate manner, for an unfortunate incident. Nevertheless, the 2-hour debate was comprehensive and incisive, as always, in the true Timesnow tradition!

Media Trial: a must, now?

Yes, perhaps. With a crumbling and crippled system all around, the Indian media, television in particular, will have to shoulder this responsibility. Cynics and puritans may list the hazards of making the media even more powerful by putting the judicial rein in their hands but the fact is that if the media had not intervened directly with sustained efforts, Jessica Lal, Nitish Katara and a few others would never have got justice. Though the justice was delayed customarily in both these cases but at least it was not denied. Ruchika’s case is also progressing in the same direction. Haven’t we already seen the various wings of the Indian establishment swiftly swing into action since Media’s campaign?!

The much protracted judgment in Ruchika’s case represents everything that is ailing and rotten in the Indian system: a super corrupt cop - morally and otherwise, an equally corrupt administration, and a handicapped court. All three pillars of our country’s democracy damaged beyond repairs; all three pillars in collusion to protect the criminal. And left is the memory of a young molested girl and her tormented family and friends, fighting the establishment - all out to destroy them for their “audacity” to go against it!

19 long years it took the judiciary to come out with its verdict: a mere 6 months imprisonment for a senior police officer who molested a young girl and later went all out exercising his political and police powers in harassing her family and friends, so much so that her brother was framed with six false charges and tortured to an extent that he became a mental wreck; she was thrown out of her school on flimsy ground; even the tennis academy buckled under pressure and banned her entry; her family had to sell off their home and flee; not to forget that in not being able to take it any further, the girl committed suicide. And, the nation saw – after 19 long years - a smiling SPS Rathore walk out of the courtroom.

What shocked me the most, like the entire nation, was this crooked cop’s mocking smile! How I wanted to smack his face hard enough to wipe away that demonic grin, forever! His nauseating grin also made me feel really sorry for his children: how unfortunate they are to have such a father!

I am sure that with Media’s active intervention, Ruchika will get justice, finally. I salute her for her extraordinary bravery in standing up to an immensely corrupt and hostile system; I salute her family and friends for their exceptional courage under extreme adversity. Now, India is with them, though belatedly – all thanks to Media, again!

But we should not stop here. Media, along with public, has to sustain their campaign and force the Indian government to bring about much awaited reforms in its systems, judiciary included. Otherwise, we will continue to pretend to be waking every time a Jessica or a Ruchika gets thrown in our face. Otherwise, the smiles of many more Rathores will keep haunting us!

May 2010 be a watershed year for India and we see our country become safe and secure for all :) ... Happy 2010!

Kasab's Crime - and Punishment

Watching news channels incessantly flash Kasab’s most dramatic u-turn reminded me of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s superb “Crime and Punishment”. Not only the words “crime” and “punishment” started playing out in my mind but also the protagonist (sorry, I do not remember the name) who had at first tried to justify his sinful action by believing that murder was permissible in pursuit of a “higher” purpose. However, I could see the clear delineation between the criminal in the novel and the murderer of 26/11 innocents: the former had the moral courage to accept his crime and choose the path to self-redemption, but, here in India, the murderer Ajmal Aamir Kasab had remained shamelessly remorseless. Infact, he had the audacity to proclaim, “I have never seen a AK-47!”

At first I felt acute agony but then I steadied my anguished mental state by deciding not to waste my emotions over a demon who was not human.

But I felt intense anger at the workings of the criminal justice system of our country. The farce of conducting a “fair” trial in the name of a democratic system and the “right” of even an established accused is immensely baffling. India has wasted vast amount of rupees and resources in the apparently never-ending process. And in the end, India gets to hear an unregretful Kasab say, “I had come to Bombay to try my luck in Hindi movies!”

This entire saga is being played out in a Bollywood style. We have a killer captured live on CCTV – and also on numerous television channels - killing scores of people with his AK-47 – yes, the same gun he claims to have never seen! – and watched live all across the globe. And then there are 610 “lucky-to-be-living” witnesses whose accounts the courts took extra pains to record officially. While the entire drama is being played out, the villain is being lodged in especially renovated jails with all possible comforts, enjoying highest possible security cover. The story is advancing well as planned with “expected” twists in the script sprinkled in between. Then comes the climax: the scene is of the courtroom. The prosecutor and the police are presenting their investigative reports; the judge asks the accused for his final words and then the world hears the most extraordinary narration of the times: Killer Kasab’s Krazy Konfessions! Recants actually, technically. (The details are imprinted on Indians psyche thanks to repeated “breaking news” on TV channels and extensive coverage by newspapers.) …

If we grant a fair and free trial rights to even a proven criminal like Kasab (until proven guilty?!) and prolong the process beyond comprehension - making it look more like a time-pass - then it is a sheer mockery of the criminal justice system; and a mockery of the memories of all those innocents murdered mercilessly on that fateful night of 26/11. Aren’t the closed-circuit cameras and the scores of witnesses not proof enough to convict Kasab? Does India fear that international courts may condemn it if it accorded deserved punishment to Kasab for unpardonable crimes? I mean, is there any justification for a “democratic” judiciary procedure in this case?

In my opinion, and I am sure I share it with my fellow Indians, Kasab should be hanged till death in public. Period. His heinous crime deserves nothing less. The message to terrorists of his ilk will be that they cannot – and should not – try to fool around any more. India – and the world – will hand over adequate punishment in proportion to their crime every time they try to disrupt peace and harmony. Terrorists are simply poisonous weeds: the world will uproot them forever. And peace and prosperity will prevail on our earth – come what may!

May Allah come to this nihilist’s rescue by sending him a Sonia, like the protagonist in Crime and Punishment, and set his soul free from all radical ideologies and sins. … Inshallah.