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A preventable tragedy

With precise intelligence available on their timing and target, the terrorists who attacked the Central Reserve Police Force camp at Rampur on Tuesday ought to have walked into a trap. Instead, eight men are dead, and the lives of their families scarred forever, in a tragedy brought about by sheer incompetence. Despite warnings that an attack was imminent — intelligence that was the fruit of investments made in enhancing the technical espionage capabilities of the Re search and Analysis Wing — the CRPF did nothing to beef up its perimeter security arrangements. Incredibly, officers at the threatened facility did not even bother to cancel or postpone their New Year festivities. A thoroughfare that runs through the camp — the existence of which is itself a gross violation of security protocol — was closed but then reopened to placate irate local residents. In the event, the Lashkar-e-Taiba assault team that carried out the terrorist attack used the thoroughfare to drive into the camp and drive out again, its mission accomplished.

India’s security apparatus responds well when beset by crisis. However, successful security depends not on crisis-time creativity but on the disciplined and effective implementation of mundane, everyday protocols. Potential targets must be secured as if terror strikes were imminent. Here the Indian system’s record is appalling. Despite years of painful experience, sensitive government installations in New Delhi, including the headquarters of some of India’s key military organisations and covert services, are defended in a manner that would be considered unconscionably negligent in many parts of the world. Most airports, railway stations, and bus terminals have no protection against car bombings or suicide squad attacks. Successive governments have failed to push the nuts-and-bolts institutional upgrades needed to enhance India’s security. Across the world, experience shows, terrorist strikes are prevented more often by the rigorous implementation of modern security measures than by pinpoint intelligence. Several countries have put in place systems to monitor purchases of chemicals that can be used to manufacture explosives. They have created online databases to facilitate real-time verification of fingerprints, identity documents, and criminal records by local police. They have invested seriously in police training and forensic investigation capabilities. They have routinely rehearsed and tested procedures for securing public facilities and government offices. On every one of these counts, India’s record is poor. Sadly, few politicians in or out of power seem interested in even understanding the problem, let alone addressing it.

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