Lapses on the terror trail proved fatal

THE Jammu & Kashmir police, the Haryana police and Central intelligence agencies may well be justified in taking credit for averting a series of major terror attacks by busting the Kashmir-Faridabad terror module. However, that does not exempt them from explaining why they failed to catch suicide bomber Umar Nabi, who was driving the car that exploded near the Red Fort on November 10.

Of course, there was a flurry of activity after the incident. Within hours of his return from Bhutan on November 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi summoned a Cabinet meeting regarding the car blast that claimed 15 lives. The Cabinet noted that the explosion was a “heinous terror incident”. The Union government had given an indication to this effect when it handed over the probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 11.

The Cabinet stated that the investigation into the incident be pursued with the utmost urgency and professionalism so that the perpetrators, their collaborators and sponsors were identified and brought to justice without delay. It did not point a finger at any organisation or country. This was at variance with the press note issued by the J&K police on their success in unearthing “an interstate and transnational terror module, linked with proscribed terrorist organisations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.”

The operation “led to the arrest of key operatives and the recovery of a massive cache of arms, ammunition and explosives, during coordinated searches in J&K and other states,” the police added.

The Cabinet expressed its appreciation for “the timely and coordinated response of the authorities, security agencies and citizens who acted with courage and compassion in the face of adversity. Their dedication and sense of duty are deeply commendable”.

This formulation is somewhat ambiguous, though it leans in favour of the manner in which everyone concerned acted after the terrorist act. This is in keeping with the Cabinet’s focus on the incident itself. Thus, it distanced itself from the J&K police’s press note which claimed credit for arresting the ‘key operatives’ and the recovery of arms. It also steered clear of the points made by Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Gupta in his media briefing on November 10 — a few hours before the Delhi incident.

Gupta gave details of the operation conducted by the Faridabad police in which they had taken a doctor hailing from Kashmir into custody. All India Radio, which gave an account of Gupta’s briefing, said his name was Mujjabal (actually, it is Muzammil). The police officer also revealed that the doctor was arrested 9-10 days earlier; media reports have stated that the arrest was made on October 30. Significantly, the Police Commissioner had admitted that a person was absconding and a probe was in progress in that matter.

There have been a spate of media reports stating that the timely detection of the terror module prevented it from carrying out a series of blasts which would have resulted in a large number of fatalities. These reports are obviously based on ‘sources’, indicating that the police and intelligence agencies are giving briefings to journalists. It would be best to await the result of the NIA investigation to know the granular details of the conspiracy, though some of the background briefings would contain some truth.

What is certain, however, is that the state/UT police concerned and Central intelligence services failed to prevent the terror attack and apprehend the perpetrator, even though they knew for days that a member of the terror module was on the loose. They owe the country an explanation for this lapse. Clearly, the J&K police’s claim that ‘key operatives’ had been apprehended was wrong. There can also be little doubt that the police investigation at the Al Falah University in Faridabad and the interrogation of Dr Muzammil would have revealed that the absconder was Nabi.

Under these circumstances, why were all the resources of the state governments concerned and the Centre not used to apprehend Nabi? This was the first terrorist act in the national capital after Modi assumed office in May 2014. It is good that the political leadership has assured that the “conspirators, collaborators and sponsors” of this terrible act will be found and meted out exemplary punishment. However, as the probe progresses, the powers that be must also focus on this insistent question: Why was Nabi not found and stopped before he could carry out the attack near the Red Fort?

The Cabinet expressed its gratitude to those countries which condoled this terror incident. These nations and the rest of the international community would be relieved that PM Modi has kept rhetoric in check and, as of now, not indicated a desire to reactivate Operation Sindoor. Nothing makes the major powers more jittery than a military conflict between two nuclear-armed states.

On his part, Modi wants the India-US trade deal to be finalised. US President Trump has made positive noises on it, but these may change if armed hostilities were to recur. Also, Modi would not want Trump to get a fresh opportunity to claim credit for ending another round of war between India and Pakistan.

While these inhibitions have made PM Modi exercise caution, it can be surmised that the Red Fort attack would be a source of deep discomfort — notwithstanding the NDA’s great victory in the Bihar elections. Signals would have been sent to Modi’s supporters to dial down their vitriol, but for how long can this be so? Sooner or later, the PM would have to show his supporters and the country that terrorist groups which sponsored or incited this attack have been punished.

Meanwhile, the attack’s Kashmir link might further reduce the possibility of restoring statehood to J&K. While continuing with its UT status may be necessary for security reasons, it would continue to be a very sore point for the people of J&K. It’s also vital for the national leadership to assert that all residents of the Kashmir valley are not terrorists or their sympathisers — on the whole, they are normal citizens of our great and plural country.