After 26/11 attacks, India strengthened agencies like Coastal Security, NSG Hub, NIA, MAC and NATGRID. UAPA amended, QRTs and commando units created. Security has improved, but coastal surveillance and coordination need to be strengthened.
26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: On November 26, 2008, 10 terrorists of Pakistan’s terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba shook Mumbai. 166 people were killed in this attack, while a large number were injured. Wednesday is the 17th anniversary of 26/11. Let us tell you that taking lessons from the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India has made a lot of improvements in its security system. India learned many operational, intelligence, legal and structural lessons from 26/11. While this strengthened coastal security, there were also major improvements in counter-terror laws, intelligence sharing and deployment of special forces. Let us know how the security was strengthened.
1- Coastal and port security has become much stricter than before. But it needs to be strengthened further, because terrorists had taken advantage of the shortcomings in monitoring small boats in the sea.
2- The Indian Navy was formally made the authority for complete maritime security (including coastal and offshore), with assistance from the Coast Guard and the States.
3- Sagar Prahari Force was created with fast interceptor craft. Along with augmentation of Coast Guard and Marine Police, Coastal Radar Chain, AIS Tracking, NC3I Network, Joint Operation Center and regular multi-agency coastal exercises like “Sagar Kavach” were initiated.
4- Multi-Agency Center (MAC) was strengthened for intelligence sharing, due to which inputs were given to central and state agencies in a more real-time and electronic manner.
5- Long term projects like NATGRID were started to rapidly detect patterns from different databases and help in counter-terror investigation.
6- On December 31, 2008, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established under the National Investigation Agency Act. It works under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the purpose of its establishment was to help the existing intelligence agencies in preventing and fighting terrorist attacks like 26/11.
7- UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) law was further strengthened. Its objective is to prevent and punish illegal and terrorist activities that threaten the integrity and sovereignty of India. It was amended in 2019, after which now under this law any organization as well as any individual can be declared a terrorist.
8- To reduce response time, NSG hubs were created in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Also, special commando training modules were started for the state police force.
9- States invested more in Quick Response Teams (QRTs), better weapons, body armor and communication gear for city police, so that urban terrorist incidents could be handled more effectively.
10- Experts believe that there is still a need to fully integrate command-and-control, ensure last-mile coastal surveillance and balance strict anti-terror laws with civil law.