The new Home Minister has to act

Ghosh!! Foremost accolades to The Times Of India for coming up with this [1-Dec-'08] front-page hard-hitting liners pointing at the actions to be taken by our new Home Minister Mr.P.Chidambaram. Truely commendable article, it still eludes me that how come these below listed issues have gone un-addressed until the time of real-emergency.

Here goes the 10 pointers

1 Create unified command for Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal Police. At present they virtually don't talk to each other. Create 3-ring security: Navy guarding high seas, Coast Guard coastal water & Coastal Police shoreline.

2 Ask for special Parliament session to create anti-terror federal agency, insulated from political interference. Telecast session live so people get to see which self-serving neta opposes it.

3 Even before the session starts, smash all turf walls between intel agencies so information flows among them. Empower NSC and Joint Intelligence Agency to make them effective coordinators among agencies.

4 Set up NSG units in all major cities. The kind of delay seen in NSG reaching Mumbai this time just won't do. Give NSG central command 2 planes for speedy movement of additional commandos.

5 Review VIP security. Too many leaders without any real risk have wangled cover to strut around and flaunt their ‘status'. Free policemen on such work so that they can protect the public.

6 Create effective emergency infrastructure and disaster relief mechanism that swings into action within seconds, not after precious hours.

7 Enhance training of intel forces to nip terror attacks at the planning stage. Make the agencies professional, allow lateral entry of best talent. Make the job attractive so that it's not seen as a punishment posting.

8 Ram through long-pending police reforms to ensure politicians don't influence police appointments. Provide security of tenure to officers. This will motivate our police to work unhindered.

9 Step up recruitment of policemen, fill in vacancies right now. India has one of the lowest ratios of policemen per thousand people — it's worse than even Nepal's. Make the police an attractive career option for good people.

10 Above all, recognise we are facing a new, dangerously sophisticated enemy. Widen mega city policing plan and modernise the force. Provide them training, latest weapons and equipment, including helicopter wings. They should not be outgunned and out-thought by AK-47-toting terrorists.