TEXT OF HOME
MINISTER SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM’s STATEMENT IN LOK SABHA ON 11 DECEMBER 2008 REGARDIG
RECENT TERRORIST ATTACK IN MUMBAI
1103
hours
THE
MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I wish to
make a statement on the terrorist attacks that took place in Mumbai between
November 26, 2008 and November 29, 2008. With deep regret, I have to report to
this House that 164 persons (civilians and security personnel) lost their lives
and 308 persons were injured. Among the civilians killed were 26 foreigners
belonging to many nationalities. Besides, nine terrorists were killed in the
operations by the security forces. One terrorist was overpowered and captured.
2. At
the outset, I wish to pay homage to the innocent civilians who werekilled and
the brave security personnel who laid down their lives in order to save the
lives of many others. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved
families. The Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra have
announced a set of measures as compensation for the terrible loss suffered by
the families. Monetary compensation and free treatment have been offered to the
injured. While words of sympathy and money can never adequately recompense the
loss, I sincerely hope that our gesture will bring some comfort to the affected
families.
3. The
broad facts of the horrific tragedy are, by now, known to the
Honourable Members and the people of
[r2]4. I
shall now give you a brief account of the response of the authorities to the
terrorist attack. At the CST, security personnel belonging to the Mumbai Police
and the RPF confronted two heavily armed terrorists. After causing mayhem at
CST, the two terrorists escaped via a lane opposite the station. Meanwhile, as
soon as news of the firing at the CST and near
5. As
information about the terrorist attacks poured in from the Nariman House, Taj
Hotel and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel, police parties were rushed to the places.
6. Shortly
before 11 p.m. on November 26, 2008, information was received by the Central
Government that there were incidents of firing in several places in Mumbai.
Immediately, the Central Government authorities got in touch with the
authorities of the Government of Maharashtra. At the request of the Government
of Maharashtra, the local Army and Navy authorities were asked to provide
assistance. Accordingly, the Army deployed 5 columns to cordon off the affected
areas and the Navy deployed their commandos to deal with the terrorists. Meanwhile,
at about 11.30 p.m., the Government of Maharashtra asked for the National
Security Guards. The Central Government immediately alerted the NSG and
mobilized their counter terrorist units, based at Manesar in Haryana. A group
of around 200 men (which was reinforced the next day) was airlifted to Mumbai
late that night. They were deployed at the various sites of the operation in
the early hours of November 27, 2008.
7. The
operations were conducted under very difficult circumstances: the terrorists
were heavily armed, there was a hostage situation, and the terrorists had the
advantage of shield and height afforded by the tall buildings that they had entered.
Nevertheless, through their patience, skill and bravery, the security forces
were able to neutralise the terrorists and rescued hundreds of persons who had
been trapped in the buildings. The operations came to an end at about
8.
Cases have been registered and
the investigations have been entrusted to the Crime Branch of the Mumbai
Police. The authorities of the Maharashtra Police and the Central agencies have
extended their full support to the Mumbai Police in the conduct of the
investigations. Hon. Members will appreciate that it would not be appropriate
to disclose any details of the investigations except to draw attention to the
official briefings given by the Mumbai Police. Nor would I be able to comment
on the many reports that have appeared in the media from time to time. I would
respectfully urge patience until the investigations are completed and the
reports are filed before the court of law.
9.
I am, Sir, however, able to
say that the finger of suspicion unmistakably points to the territory of our
neighbour,
10. I
know that Honourable Members - as well as the people of the country -would wish
to ask a number of questions concerning the nature and extent of the terrorist
threat to
11. Honourable Members, in
my assessment,
12. We have a number of
intelligence gathering agencies. Intelligence is shared, evaluated and acted
upon. However, I have found that there is a tendency to treat some intelligence
inputs that are not specific or precise as not actionable intelligence.
Further, the responsibility for acting upon intelligence inputs is quite
diffused. In the case of the Mumbai attacks, intelligence regarding a suspected
LeT vessel attempting to infiltrate through the sea route was shared with the
Director General, Coast Guard and the Principal Director, Naval Intelligence.
The Coast Guard made a serious effort, including deploying vessels and
aircraft, to locate the suspect vessel, but was not successful. The Navy found
that the coordinates of the vessel, as reported, placed it well within the
territorial waters of
13.
I wish to inform Honourable
Members that all aspects concerning intelligence are under my examination.
While the basic structure seems sound, there is a need to make intelligence
gathering and intelligence sharing more effective and result oriented. Some
changes have already been made and more are underway.
14.
The NSG is our best trained
and best equipped force to counter a terrorist attack. On many occasions in the
past - and in Mumbai too - they have displayed exceptional courage and skill.
They are hampered by the distance between their headquarters and the airport; the
absence of a dedicated aircraft; and the poor logistics in the theatre of
operations. Nevertheless, once deployed, the NSG is a very effective counter
terrorist force. I have initiated a number of steps to remove the logistical
weaknesses in mobilising and deploying the NSG. A decision has been taken to
locate NSG units in a few regional hubs. A decision has also been taken to draw
upon the commando units of the Armed Forces to create more regional hubs until
a decision is taken to locate NSG units in those hubs too. These decisions will
be implemented as expeditiously as possible.
15. The Mumbai terrorist attacks have brought into
sharp focus the vulnerability of our coastline that extends to 7,500 kms and
the imperative need to
enhance maritime and coastal security. A coastal security scheme was approved in January 2005 for
implementation over a period of five years with an outlay of Rs.400 crore for
capital expenditure and Rs.151 crore for recurring expenditure during the first
five years. We have reviewed the scheme and we have concluded that there is a
need to strengthen it and integrate it into a larger security system. A decision has
been taken in-principle to create a Coastal Command for overall supervision and
coordination of maritime and coastal security. The mandate of the Coastal
Command will be to secure
16. I may also report to
this House a number of other decisions that have been taken in order to enhance
security:
(i) Intelligence gathering
requires human resources and technical resources. We have identified the gaps.
Steps are being taken to fill the vacancies in the intelligence organizations
expeditiously and to provide them with advanced technical equipment.
(ii) India Reserve Battalions are
being raised in a number of States with financial assistance from the Central
Government. Government have already authorized that two companies of each
battalion may be raised as special commando units for which additional
assistance will be provided for training, equipment etc.
(iii) It has been decided to set up 20
counter-insurgency and antiterrorism schools in different parts of the country
for training the commando units of the State police forces.
17.
A separate exercise is
underway to strengthen the laws relating to terrorist acts. We are in the
process of consulting different political parties and I hope to introduce in
this Session, with the leave of this House, a set of Bills to strengthen the
legal provisions relating to the prevention, investigation, prosecution and
punishment of terrorist acts. One of the Bills is for setting up a National
Investigation Agency. I would urge this House to consider and pass these Bills
in this Session. I would also urge this House to pass the Amendment Bill to the
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
18.
The Prime Minister, in his
Address to the Nation on November 27, 2008 declared the resolve of the
Government to take the strongest possible measures to ensure the security of
the nation and the people. I promise, on behalf of the Government, that we will
strain every nerve to carry this resolve into determined action. There is one
thing that I wish to make clear: given the nature of the threat, we cannot go
back to "business as usual". In the next few weeks and months, it
will be my endeavour to take certain hard decisions and prepare the country and
the people to face the challenge of terrorism.
19.
I appeal to all sections of
this hon. House and to the people
of
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