Goa is insecure despite security operations
The couple of crude bombs which obliterated a migrant worker and left his family and neighbours injured, comes as a pointed irony to the elaborate security operation ‘Sagar Kavach’ which was staged just a day before, by the entire security paraphernalia.
Though the mock exercise nabbed the mock terrorist and detected the fake bombs, the crude bombs that exploded at San Jose de Areal mock at the entire security exercise, that a small migrant labour was able to smuggle 30 to 50 bombs without the security apparatus having a clue. Of course ‘Sagar Kavach’ was a coastal security exercise, but terrorists are way ahead of intelligence agencies and police should not expect terrorists to inform them they would be coming through the hinterland route or from across the mountains. The security agencies are time and again caught napping when such devastating incidents happen and leave the citizens at the mercy of Divine providence.
From primary perceptions it appears that the crude bombs were not intended for terrorist activities, but for banned activities such as fishing or killing animals. This does not reduce the gravity of the security lapse since there is every possibility that the 30 to 50 bombs could easily have eliminated 100 people and injured around 300 others or more, if used in a public place or at the counting venue. The San Jose de Areal case shows how easy it is to procure gunpowder, inspite of security exercises, night patrolling, etc, make crude bombs just 5 kms from the South Goa District capital, Margao, and use it at will.
If the police are looking for help from citizens, unfortunately, the image of the police is not something that inspires confidence, given the corruption and politicization of the force. Abject service conditions, poor perks, abuse by seniors demoralize the force. Reforms through the Police Bill to inject professionalism have long been forgotten. Politicization keeps them busy with political vendetta. Therefore an image makeover should be high on the new DGP’s agenda, who has already ticked himself off by declaring that Goa is not a drug haven, as reflected in the Calangute MLA’s utterances, thus betraying the trust of the people.
It was not long ago that in September 2013, that the National Investigation Agency had recovered bomb-making equipment from an Anjuna house, where Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, had lived in 2011-12. Terrorists would find elections an ideal time to strike when the entire State machinery is still in election mode with ministers from Goa traveling to other states for campaigning.
In both the Yasin Bhatkal and the Paplu Mulgund cases, those who rented out the premises did not inform the police, which is a serious lapse. Again in both instances, it was merely providential that both the accused did not heap massacre on Goa, even as the State continues to be on the terror threat list due to presence of foreign tourists especially Israeli soldiers sent here for cooling off. It is time that the State Home ministry and other agencies wake up to make security of Goans the highest priority collaborative intelligence and police training with Israelis and Americans, instead of reinventing the wheel. This is also exigent because no officer wants to head the police training college and the training, and intelligence modules are surely outdated. The levels of vulnerability and unpreparedness of security agencies is no different in other Indian states. In fact Goa should set an example to other states in security preparedness. This can only be done through complete modernization of the entire security apparatus in terms of equipment and human resource. Internal and external security are the fundamental duties of the State. Unless the citizens feel secure, no amount of schemes can instill people’s confidence in the government. Question is who lives if Goa dies?
