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Tackling
Terrorism
My First Priority
- Sivanandhan
I
would say that
the threat perception
in Mumbai in the
recent years has
increased. Mumbai
is the commercial
capital with a
huge population.
Terror activities
in this city attract
the attention
of the world.
The city provides
anonymity.
There was no slip-up
by the informer
network of Mumbai
Police with regard
to 26/11. On the
contrary, Mumbai
Police came out
as one-man and
stood up to the
crisis. They have
investigated,
found the perpetrators,
charge-sheeted
and brought them
successfully to
trial.
Eighteen Mumbai
policemen sacrificed
their lives in
one incident.
It is not a small,
mean sacrifice.
This kind of police
response is some
thing unique which
is of world class
where one terrorist
was caught alive.
The organized
crime is under
control. My priority
today is to get
prepared for a
terrorist attack;
so there ends
my problem.
Already, 39 combat
teams have come
into being. They
are fully trained,
equipped and raring
to go.
As of now my best
author is Eckhart
Tolle, who wrote
the best seller
called A New Earth
and earlier, the
Power of Now.
I don't work for
any one to make
movies on me.
I do my job. If
someone gets inspired
by that then I
will be happy
about it.
Wherever I go,
I see a bright
smile on the face
of a policeman.
He identifies
with me, and that
is the biggest
achievement I'll
carry to my grave.
Mumbai's
Police Commissioner
D. Sivanandhan
defined his task
immediately after
taking over as
city's Top Cop
in the middle
of June 2009.
“My immediate
challenge is to
tackle terrorism,”
he said. The city,
still reeling
under the impact
of the 26 November
2008 terrorist
attack, needed
such a confidence-building
assurance. And
Mumbaikars felt
assured that it
came from a man
of Sivanadhan's
caliber. Yes,
most of them still
remember how he
smashed the organized
underworld crime
syndicates during
his stint as the
Joint Commissioner
of Crime a few
years ago. In
an interview with
Dev Varam of THE
PROTECTOR magazine,
the Commissioner
of Police talks
about his strategies
to motivate his
men and the confidence-building
measures he has
initiated to make
Mumbaikars feel
safe and secure.
In March 1993,
Mumbai was hit
by the first serial
bomb blasts. In
November 2008,
the city was attacked
by the terrorists.
In-between, there
had been a number
of bomb blasts.
What has been
the threat perception
in Mumbai in the
last 15 years
or so?
would only say
that the threat
perception in
the last 15 years
has increased.
The scenario has
changed from organized
crime syndicates
attacking business
people to terrorists
killing innocent
citizens on a
much bigger scale.
In organized crime,
the syndicate
attacks targeted
particular individuals.
A terrorist attack
is against the
humanity at large.
These attacks
have taken place
all through the
years. We could
say that Mumbai,
being India's
commercial capital,
has been targeted
by the enemies
of the nation.
Besides Mumbai
attracts the attention
of the world.
Because of this,
terrorists have
repeatedly carried
out their dastardly
acts against innocent
citizens. The
city with a huge
population provides
the perpetrators
anonymity.
The victims belonged
to all communities.
So, this is how
a fear psychosis
is created among
the citizens to
make them feel
insecure. But
we all have to
come together,
stay together,
and put our best
foot forward to
see that these
things are not
repeated.
Organized crime
has not shown
its ugly face
yet. It is under
control.
My priority today
is to get prepared
for a terrorist
attack. So there
ends my problem.
The Mumbai Police
is famous for
its informer network.
Was there any
slip-up with regard
to 26/11?
There was no slip-up
as far as the
Mumbai Police
informer network
was concerned.
It is limited
to organized crime
and various other
local crimes.
In this regard,
the informer network
is excellent.
Has any organized
crime occurred
since 1998-2000?
No serious organized
crime has occured
since 1998-2000.
We had carried
out various operations
and put a full
stop to the organized
crime.
With regard to
terror attacks
in Mumbai as well
as other Indian
cities, these
are part of an
international
conspiracy to
spread terrorism
in India. On its
part, the Mumbai
Police have done
extremely well
in dealing with
the perpetrators,
whether in 1992-93
or 2008.
We came out as
a one-man and
stood up to the
crisis. Eighteen
policemen sacrificed
their lives in
one incident.
It is not a small,
mean sacrifice.
This kind of police
response is some
thing unique,
which is of world
class where one
terrorist was
caught alive.
Our informers
and our police
cannot go abroad
and collect intelligence
about international
conspiracies.
It is unfair on
the part of anybody
to say that our
network has failed
or the Mumbai
Police have failed.
No. On the contrary,
the Mumbai Police
has come out in
a big way and
faced all the
challenges. They
have investigated.
They have found
out the perpetrators;
they have charge-sheeted
them; brought
them successfully
to trial. Police
have always been
on the top of
the scenario.
Terrorism is a
national phenomenon.
And it is the
international
players who are
involved. We can
tie up with Central
agencies, Army,
Navy and the Coast
Guard and be prepared
to face the terrorists
in a better way.
We are definitely
putting our heart
and soul together
in this matter.
How are you preparing
your men to meet
any contingency?
I have already
started providing
training. I have
selected 1,000
policemen. They
are under training
of NSG and Army
officers. We are
equipping them
and putting them
together. We have
got armoured,
bullet-proof and
blast proof vehicles.
Already, 39 combat
teams have come
into being. They
are fully trained
and equipped.
They have bullet-proof
jackets, AK-47s
and various other
necessary gadgets.
We are also training
a special force
of 1,000 for deployment
- 500 during the
day and 500 in
the night. They
are also getting
ready as we are
training them
and equipping
them in every
possible way.
Are you taking
any help from
the Israelis?
A study group
has visited Israel
to study what
is happening there.
It will submit
a report to the
government. We
are awaiting the
State Government’s
action on that
report.
Is there any threat
from Moists or
Naxalites to Mumbai?
As of now, no
Moist or Naxalite
thereat is seen
in Mumbai as of
now. Nothing can
be said about
that in future.
As of today, our
main problem would
be terror and
various other
crimes that a
cosmopolitan city
faces.
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