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Journalism of Courage
Says whoever training terrorists doing a good job
“I am deeply ashamed of the role of the NSG,” said former Punjab Police chief K P S Gill, who has been credited with ending militant activities in Punjab.
The operation to free the Taj Hotel lasted for over 60 hours and still the commandoes failed to nab any of the hostages alive, said Gill, highlighting that a number of lives were also lost in the operation.
“I am reminded of Operation Black Thunder, which was a very successful NSG operation under me at the Golden Temple. The terrorists surrendered and not a single life was lost,” he said.
At an interactive session organised by the Ladies Study Group in Kolkata on Thursday, which was also attended by veteran journalist M J Akbar, Gill said: “If 10 terrorists can hold the entire city of Mumbai to ransom for three whole days, I must admit that whoever is training these boys, hand picking them and motivating them, is definitely doing a good job.”
He also raised questions on the role of the Anti-Terror Squad and the eventual death of its chief Hemant Karkare.
“I feel the quick reaction teams formed by the police is not the right way forward. The idea of such teams is specific to the Army and when the police start thinking like the Army, it is always a great blunder,” the former DGP said.
He added that three senior officers should not have been present in the same car while chasing the terrorists. “Once the ATC chief was killed, the whole team was disoriented,” he added.
Discussing the new anti-terror measures of the government announced on Thursday, he said it will take over six months to implement the measures and within six months of implementation, “the measures will just die out.”
His experience in Punjab had taught him that each police station of the state should take steps to combat terrorism within its jurisdiction, he said. “But now, the officers of the police station are also chosen on the recommendations of political biggies.”
He added that the population of the country is growing rapidly and the police-people ratio is just getting worse. Besides, corruption at every level is weakening the base.
“Kolkata, I hope, will never be a terrorist target as it is a nice city for retired people,” he said in conclusion.
