Nairobi mall attack: How can we prevent such attacks in India?

by Ajit Joy The attack by a small group of well armed terrorists at a shopping mall in Nairobi Kenya goes on for the second day with the death toll rising to 68. Security forces, even after 48 hours from the start of the incident, are trying to get to the terrorists and the hostages they hold. This incident is so similar to the Mumbai terrorist attack of 26 November 2008. Who can forget the day when the city and the country was brought to its knees in helplessness for  over 72 hours by just 10 well trained terrorists even as the media beamed desperate images in real time. Let us not forget that 164 lives were lost and about twice that injured in Mumbai. Terrorist  strategies change fast and one does not know in what form or from where the next attack is going to take place. However, given the wide publicity and effect that this kind of attack in a prominent urban place by a motivated  group prepared to give up their own lives has achieved, this model is likely to be used more often by terror groups. From what happened in  Mumbai we learnt very painful lessons - that we need to be prepared to prevent such attacks and if we fail in prevention -  to face it professionally. After five years of Mumbai, and in light of the Nairobi attack, we need to  review our preparedness. How ready are cities like Chennai, Kochi, Guwahati or Ahmedabad  to deal with such emergencies. More importantly, how well are we faring as a nation in preventing such incidents from occurring?  Well trained, quick reaction security units that can deal with emergency  situations ought to be present in major cities ready to reach the spot very quickly. These units should be able to reach other locations at short notice. Local police must have the ability to act intelligently as the first responders. The building plan of the most prominent locations must be with the police and special units. We do have all these in place, but this is useful once we have failed in preventing incidents. However, more than being prepared to face such situations it is important  to prevent and pre-empt them. This is possible only with a conscious and educated response by the state and people combined. At every point of vulnerability state authorities need to do their job well, be it an immigration point, border post, the coast guard, customs or police. Lack of professionalism, training and many times owing to corruption, operatives from terror networks are able to cross borders and smuggle in arms and explosives with ease. Certain locations within countries where it is possible for terrorists to get local support need to be especially monitored. Most of such terrorist incidents take place after careful planning and reconnaissance of the target to be attacked. Houses and hotel rooms are hired, vehicles purchased, telephones and sim cards are locally procured. Thus a lot of local contact and preparation goes into an operation which should arouse the suspicion of citizens. For this security consciousness needs to be raised amongst the public. Suspicious people and objects need to be reported. However, this will not happen if the police itself is a  corrupt and inefficient organisation - the public does not trust. While improving professionalism of the police, more people oriented policing and community relationships is required  especially in sensitive locations. Along with increasing security and preparedness one cannot understate the importance of intelligence collection and surveillance. Recent controversy around the Snowden revelations shows how deeply entrenched and widespread electronic surveillance by some countries have become. India is quite well advanced in its own electronic surveillance of all kinds of communication. While there needs to be a line between what the state is allowed to see and hear and individual freedoms and privacy, when faced with saving innocent lives security of a nation will have to trump privacy rights. In addition modern day security is also about sharing intelligence with other nations. Our preparedness must also include strong allies in the global intelligence network. While incidents such as the one in Nairobi, or Mumbai may still recur, a proper prevention strategy, intelligence collection and capabilities for a professional response can prevent several such incidents and help in decisive response if it takes place. Ajit Joy has worked in the Indian Police Service and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime