Sensationalising 26/11

Had no plans of writing this post but just found an article on Times of India website so thought of spreading it. Everyone these days is so distressed after Mumbai attacks left so many dead. Many palns were cancelled (including our Goa trip), tourism dipped and what not happened. States were blamed protest marches and other ways of registering the protest. But just look at this:

People killed in Road accidents: 314/day. Calculate 314*365=?
People killed by Lightning (it may look amusing): 2,700/yearly
People killed by terror activities-
Terror activities in North-East: 498
Rest: 235

Now one cant blame the govt or anyone for lightning (i donno how to avoid it), but what about road accidents? When so many marches can be taken out to better equip the police why not take out a single one for traffic police. And I didnt find any records for murders and abductions and rapes. These are much more serious problem our country is facing that 26/11. I agree that steps should be taken to prevent terror attacks also but public should not just stand up cause it had much more drama in it. I am not at all being insensitive here to talk like this. I respect every person who fought or held in any way but people should not stop looking at other problems.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Lightning_kills_more_than_terror/articleshow/3848333.cms

Death of Democracy

Current Link

NEW DELHI: Rattled by the Mumbai terror attacks, government on Tuesday introduced two bills to set up a National Investigation Agency (NIA) with special powers and to amend the law to provide for more stringent action to deal with terrorism effectively.

The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 and The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill were moved by home minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha, a day after the Union Cabinet gave its nod to such measures.

The NIA Bill provides for setting up of special courts for speedy trial of terror-related offences, with hearings to be held on day-to-day basis. Any case pending in any special court can be transferred to any other special court.

Notwithstanding law and order being the state subject, officers of the NIA above the rank of sub inspector will have special powers to pursue and investigate any offence related to terror across the country.

Officers of the agency would enjoy all powers, duties, privileges and liabilities which the local police officers have in connection with cases related to terror.

The bill to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has stringent provisions including detention period of 180 days instead of 90 days now and denial of bail altogether to a foreigner accused of terrorism in the country.

Even an Indian national accused in a terror-related case cannot be released on bail or on his own bond unless the public prosecutor has been given an opportunity of being heard on the application for such release.

The bill says that the court shall presume, unless the contrary is shown, that the accused has committed an offence for which he has been arrested, including possession of arms or explosives with a belief that these or such substances were used in the commission of a terror act.

It also provides for freezing, seizing and attaching funds and other financial assets or economic resources held by individuals or entities engaged in or suspected to be engaged in terrorism.

A new section has been inserted in the bill which says that those using explosives, firearms, lethal weapons, poisonous chemicals, biological or radiological weapons with the intention of aiding, abetting or committing terror act "shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years".

The bill says that anyone in India or in a foreign country who directly or indirectly raises or collects funds or provides funds for a terrorist act shall be punishable with at least five year imprisonment, which may extend to life.

A similar punishment has been provided in the bill for those organising camps for training in terrorism, and also for those recruiting persons for commission of a terrorist act.

The bill says that every offence punishable under this act shall be deemed to be congnizable offence.

It says that if it is not possible to complete the investigation within 90 days, it may be extended upto 180 days. Besides, no person accused of a terror-related offence, if in custody, would be released on bail or on his own bond.

What is democracy? The freedom enjoyed by all persons to choose their leaders and also the freedom to criticise them or to take their stand on any issue (ofcourse not getting violent). Now imagine the powers government have with this act. Just imagine any person X who has done something to the dislike of the government or any officer of NIA. I am assuming that judiciary is perfect hence no scope of wrong judgement there. Without this act government can atmost keep a person for a day or two in jail before producing him to the magistrate. Now consider the scenario. NIA can keep the person in jail for 6 months. Even in that scenario the person will fight hoping that justice awaits him after 6 months. But no during the 6 months not only that person is tortured but also his family as all his financial accounts, properties have been seized. Now this scenario is bad enough for any family man to do as government says. And there would be no case against government as after 6 months they'll just release him saying 'sorry'! No accountability, no action! This was all assuming that judiciary was perfect.

Now add to the fact that you are presumed guilty unless you prove your innocence. Now how can a person after 6 months in jail without any financial resources prove himself innocent? I doubt anyone other that hardended criminals or terrorists would have the will left to fight against the government.

This law is nothing less than imposing emergency. Power of putting anyone in jail for 6 months with no reason whatsoever.

One more provision was proposed for the bill which said that "Any statement in police custody will be admissible in court". Now we all know that how police works and given 6 months they can prove anything from any person.
You can read this joke for further understanding: http://www.funtoosh.com/dj.php?details=ind~330


What I believe the bill should have been (just putting the important points):

• setting up of special courts for speedy trial of terror-related offences, with hearings to be held on day-to-day basis
• officers of the NIA above the rank of sub inspector will have special powers to pursue and investigate any offence related to terror across the country
• monitoring and stopping transactions if necessary of funds and other financial assets or economic resources held by individuals or entities engaged in or suspected to be engaged in terrorism
• detention period of 30 days and after that if investigation is still incomplete then extension by another 30 days after producing before a magistrate and showing some proof linking suspect to crime (not the whole chargesheet). Denial of bail for maximum of 30 days for national of any country.
• admissibality of proofs from electronic gadgets like mobiles, satellite phone, gps etc (only those which are tamper proof).

The police have enough powers, but the problem is that there is not enough police force for a country of billion people. Police force must be expanded, borders secured using technology and intelligence improved by winning the trust of the people. Also for the kind of cities we have with everything in chaos, and people thronging every lane if a person is willing to die to kill others then it is hardly possible to stop him.

What Police forces urgently need (including all the central forces like NSG, RAW, IB and newly formed NIA) is more manpower, better equipment, better pay and most importantly some respect. They save us everyday so they do deserve some respect.

A Different Bond

Just watched Quantum of Solace (henceforth referred to as QS) recently. Now I had heard that QS was in continuation of Casino Royal(again would be referring it as CR), so had watched CR a few weeks back. Still I never imagined that it would be having so much in common. Now I hardly ever remember faces (forget names) from movies so it was a lot of trouble understanding what was really happening. I think I will have to watch both of them together again to make some sense out of it!
But lets leave that as its my problem (or lack of understanding). What I was talking about was the way how image of Bond has been changed from gizmos and gadegts to that of hardcore action man.
During the times of Pierce Brosnan in any action sequence you can expect atleast some technology to be used. But here with Daniel Craig its like "aao kise ladna hai". Its more like Sunny Deol (a little less I agree) action than a Bond flick. James Bond who was always associated with clever thinking has been reduced to just being an action personality. And Mr Q has dissappeared as the new Bond hardly requires anything from him. In the starting action sequence of QS (chase in the car), I kept on hoping that now, maybe now, he'll push some unusual button, but no the only thing he uses is his driving skill and in the end an SMG!
Now I guess watch Bond movies only for its storyline (this story in continuation looks good even though it means trouble for souls like me!). Dont even expect any gadgets or guns to come out hidden from anywhere near Bond. Just simple action movie!
Donno whateher this change is for good or worse but change is definitly there!

Hanging of Afzal Guru

Initially even I was confused that why is Afzal Guru still alive? He has been convicted by every court including Supreme court. So why is he still alive? Many have this question including the opposition but I believe that given the circumstances any party in power wont be able to hang him.

Everyone will know that there is a similar prisoner Sarabjit Singh who is convicted of bombing in Pakistan and has been sentenced to death by their Highest court. I know many will shout at this point that both cases are different, but thats just point of view here. They wont be feeling the same in Pakistan.

So what happens if Afzal Guru is hanged tomorrow? I know Pakistan does nt acknowledge Afzal as their own, but we can all assume where their heart lies. They'll obviously want to give a reaction (like everytime an Indian missile is tested, withtin a week Pakistan missile is tested). So we can all guess what their reaction will be. I know no gevernment can directly give the reason of why its delaying the hanging but no government can also hang him and allow death of Indian citizen.

So it would be much better to understand this than make an embarrasing position for any party in power by questioning again and again.

Breaking apart the system

Open any television channel these days and what you hear is anger of the people. The anger is justified. The politicians are corrupt. Otherwise with the kind of money India has, our security forces can be so well equipped that nobody dare attack us. But at the same time I start hearing views like-
* Stop paying taxes
* Stop voting
*"I want to hear from Mr Singh tomorrow morning that we are going to destroy all camps in POK and Pakistan"- heard on NDTV
*Comparison with America on how they had no more terror strikes.

Now this is what I feel. People (from here on including me) dont want any responsibility but just know how to shout and show their anger. Who are those politicians? They are from among us. We voted for them. I know we can have better politicians but where are those better persons? Why aren't people like Murthy or Shreedharan fighting elections. I'll support them and I know many else will too. And for those who are shouting to stop paying taxes here is my question to you: Why dont you join politics? Why dont you even go for IAS, IPS where you can really change the system (am on purpose not mentioning the defence academy because in armed forces you can serve the country but you cant change the country). And I dont know personally any of those shouting but I can tell from their remarks that 99% of them will be even worse politicians than we have today. They may be energetic, may even not be corrupt (not for sure how any human will react when 10000000 Rs is placed in front of him but I assume positively) but do they really have the knowledge to run this country? Is India just in Mumbai, Delhi and other big cities. Have any of us even visited any village to understand its problems? Its very easy to sit and shout but nobody is willing to take the responsibility.

Now for war on Pakistan. They talk as if its a big joke! My question is for that man who said on NDTV: "Will you yourself go and fight along with your sons if any?" Do they have any idea what the loss of lives would be if there is a war. I agree it would not be intheir city Mumbai then but still a human life would be lost. But yeah that man will feel safe. I dont think thousands of men should go and fight to keep that man safe. Especially when it wont achieve anything as it will just destroy the government and maybe army but not terrorism.
And another thing, India is not USA and Pakistan is not Afghanistan. Any Indian fighet jet that goes into Pakistan has no surety of coming back. Probability is that it wont. Also in America the public is more organised (it may be good for security but I still prefer the carefree attitude). They dont mind the security checks or waiting in line. And most importantly they are very less in number. 1/5 th of India's population. Its just not possible to achieve same levels of security in India with the kind of density we have. That too when many are in poverty.

Its not that I dont mourn the dead or am trying to be pro-government. Its just that breaking aprat the system is the worst thing we can do. Instead of shouting outside it would be much more fruitful to look what we did or didnt do. These acts are such that whether it be BJP or Congress, they will still happen. Both the parties are corrupt. Both have Z-plus security and hence their leaders are safe. Although in the current scenario I'd support Congress anyday but its just like "andho mein kana raja". Its not that they have the best leaders or anything. But for BJP i'll just say that no matter how tough they are on terrorists (read muslims) every Babri, every Godhra creates a 1000 more terrorists inside our own country which is the worst thing we can ahve as far as security is concerned. Its much better to stop those 1000 from getting misled.

So guys, stop blaming and start acting. Our system is good enough, its just that no one is managing it efficiently.

Private Security- Time for India to have one?

After the Mumbai terror attacks there have been lot of talks of private firms having security for themselves. But the kind of security that is needed (seeing the sophistication of terrorists) involves arming private security guards with AK-47's and even heavy firepower like machine guns and not to talk about the defensive requirements like shields etc. But there are number of problems associated with this:

1) What if the weaponry for security is used for non-security purposes like personal score and flaunting (we all know how people love to flaunt their status). We see lot of that happening with just guns that are distributed among people.

2) What if these weapons fall into wrong hands. When police cant protect itself from naxalites how to ensure that these weapons go to their hands.

3) If a private security guard is armed with AK-47 then its but obvious (to me atleast) that the police if not better atleast be equally armed. Otherwise what is gonna happen if any incident happens.

So not only do we have to ensure security for the client but also secure the security (pun intended)
I dont think any method can be foolproof but here is a structure within which it may work:

1) Give only few agencies right to provide security, preferably government corporation (will talk about this later)
2) Security is to be provided only to establishment. No security for any person or any moving vehicle.
3) The security must have minimum standards. Like minimum of 20 guards, control room, securing all entry points etc. This is again more for protection of guns than for the establishment.
4) Mandatory trainging and checking of credentials of all agents working in the agency. Army personals would have been preferable but it would be below their dignity to guard a private property.
5) All corporations or agencies to remain under Defence department. A senior defence personal to have a say in their functioning. And a team of senior officers to regularly conduct surprise checks of any establishment.
6) Revoking of licence of the agency if in any way security of guns is compromised. Now in continuation of this I will explain why a government corporation would be a better option.
I agree that in no government agency can be as efficient as a private one. But any private agency is more prone to compromise standards for more money (there is a counter example also- private agency will fear revocation of licence more than a government one so less prone to corruption). But if there is an option between less security or free distribution of AK-47's, I'd prefer the former.

My aim while formulating the above was first ensuring security of guns and then allowing security for private frims.

I'd surely like to listen to more ideas of implementing private security.