A force to reckon with

As a policeman myself, I have always believed that the Maharashtra police, the Mumbai city police in particular, are the best in the country, and would compare favourably with any force in the world. My heart went out to the policemen who were for the first time confronted with something vastly different and complex. I was watching the policemen and fire-fighting personnel manfully trying to cope with the situation. News was being telecast about firing by terrorists, and a number of people injured and killed. I recognised some of the senior officers giving directions. There was ATS chief Hemant Karkare, outside the Taj in discussion with Raghuvanshi, his predecessor, both trying on helmets and bullet-proof jackets. I knew them to be among the best officers and felt reassured that the situation would be competently handled. They were not strangers to terrorist operations, having handled Naxalite terrorism first hand when much younger, when I was heading anti-Naxalite operations. Then I saw a news ticker that Ashok Kamte had been killed. Ashok was a fine young man, among the best in the younger lot of IPS officers. His grandfather was the first Indian inspector general of the post-independent Bombay state. Ashok had made his mark right from the days of his training in the National Police Academy. He loved body building, and made an impression the very first time you met him. I felt what a loss his death was to the force. I could visualise him getting involved in the chase against the terrorists and risking his life.

Just as these thoughts were running through my mind, I saw the news that Hemant Karkare and Salaskar had been shot and killed. A quiet man, Hemant was sharp and intelligent. It was not surprising that he decided to lead from the front and risk his life. As superintendent of police in Chandrapur, he was part of my anti-Naxalite operations team. An engineer, Hemant developed a computer programme through which we could track the movements of Naxalite Dalams. We eliminated a 8220;labour cell8221; of the left extremists in Chandrapur and destroyed the Naxal Dalam operating in the talukha of Rajura. Hemant endeared himself to everyone with his soft-spoken and low key ways. He must have been very uncomfortable with the attention he received during investigations into alleged terrorist activities by some Hindutva zealots. The investigation had been described as a political conspiracy by some political leaders. One thing I am sure of: Hemant would not have associated himself with any such action. The late Inspector Salaskar had the reputation of being a daring and committed officer. The media described him as an 8220;encounter specialist8221;. I wished they would not. There was no such thing. His readiness to be part of the action on Wednesday had cost him his life. The death of such officers with total devotion to duty is a great loss not only to the police force but to the people at large.

It is necessary to learn lessons and develop responses. In an emergency, a special control room should be automatically convened, for which protocol should be in place. The senior supervisory personnel should assemble there and guide operations. For them to be on the roads and at the scenes would not contribute to efficiency. Similarly, the political leadership should get involved at a much later stage. For the police, how about studying the SWAT model of USA?

The writer is a former Director General of Police, Maharashtra