M A I N   N E W S

26/11
Panel raps Gafoor, govt absolves him
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, June 16
Unruly scenes were witnessed in Maharashtra assembly today as the state government decided not to table the report of the Ram Pradhan committee which was formed to probe the 26/11 terror attacks.

The Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP created a ruckus in both houses, which had to be adjourned repeatedly, after the state government decided to table only the Action Taken Report on Ram Pradhan probe panel. The ATR questions the findings of the committee which had indicted the then Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor and doubted his ability to lead the force during a crisis even while it lauded the performance of the police force as a whole.

Despite the government’s refusal to release the findings of the Pradhan panel report, its contents have been leaked to the media. According to sources, the committee found fault with Gafoor for being stationed at one location --- near Hotel Trident. The findings reportedly pointed out to the lack of coordinated and visible control which gave the impression of the police being in disarray. Some senior police officers had also found fault with the conduct of Gafoor, who was specially flayed for not taking charge of the police control room when the attack was in progress. The former police commissioner was also criticised for not preventing duplication of efforts by members of the force.

However, the ATR gave a clean chit to Gafoor saying he had set up a regional control room and was coordinating with various units. The ATR also went on to say that the terror attacks were akin to an act of war and no police machinery was equipped to handle such an incident. The government’s decision to table only the ATR was taken after a lengthy cabinet meeting where the Ram Pradhan panel report was discussed in detail. Today was the last day of the budget session of the Maharashtra assembly.

When the house assembled, Home Minister informed the members that the government has taken the decision not to table the report keeping in view the fact that the 26/11 trial is on and that there are certain sensitive things in the report on security aspects of Mumbai and Maharashtra. He further said the government would ensure that the recommendations of the ATR report are implemented within three months. The government has already initiated measures like setting up of Force One, Quick Response Team, beefing up coastal security and direct recruitment of intelligence officers, he said.

However, the Opposition stalled proceedings, demanding tabling of the Pradhan committee report, forcing six adjournments.

In the Legislative Council, deputy chairman Vasant Davkhare suspended three members of the legislative council following the pandemonium. While

senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde was suspended for three years, his party colleague Arvind Sawant and Shiv Sena’s Diwakar Raote were suspended till the end of their respective terms.

Meanwhile, BJP group leader Eknath Khadse said the government desisted from tabling the Pradhan panel report as “names of three ministers figured in the report.” “The government should name the three ministers,” he added.