taj
New Delhi: The spate of terror attacks in the country climaxed by the unprecedented Mumbai carnage left the Home Ministry bruised and its unpopular head became a big political casualty in 2008 while they also served as a wake-up call to revamp the national security apparatus.
As the turbulent year for the civil security establishment draws to a close, the nation was on high alert with the Mumbai siege and about 70 serial blasts and terror attacks across seven states in the last seven months claiming over 400 lives giving some lessons to authorities to keep terror at bay.
2008: The year of Terror attacks
73-year-old Home Minister Shivraj Patil, whose legendary sartorial fetish became a matter of ridicule, lost the job when he resigned and had to make way for Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who got cracking from day one to blunt charges within and outside UPA that the government was soft on terror.
In little over a fortnight after the Mumbai attacks, the 63-year-old Harvard-educated MBA and eminent lawyer piloted two tough anti-terror Bills in Parliament and got them passed to pave creation of a National Investigation Agency to deal with crime having inter-state and international ramifications.
Mumbai under siege | Delhi terror strikes
It was an ominous start for the Home ministry when the New Year dawned with a terror strike on CRPF Group Centre at Rampur in Uttar Pradesh leaving eight dead.
Serial bomb blasts shook Jaipur in May claiming 69 lives while the attacks in Ahmedabad in July saw 56 people perish. The national capital was jolted by a series of blasts in September leaving 26 persons dead and the terror attacks in Assam mauled 88 persons. Serial explosions also rocked Tripura and Bangalore.
Having learnt bitter lessons from the Mumbai incident, the Home Ministry ordered registration of fishing boats and making optimal use of technology for providing Transponders and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) on the vessels.
Blasts rock Ahmedabad | When the Pink City turned red
Besides, four National Security Guards (NSG) hubs are being created in various parts of the country to ensure quick dispatch of commandos.
The NSG, which played a key role in dealing with the terrorists who attacked Mumbai, is mandated to participate in anti-terror, anti-hijack and hostage rescue operations.
Till now comprising only best hands from the Army and the paramilitary forces, the NSG will now draw commandos from the three armed forces and have an air wing for their quick deployment during emergency.
Naxal violence is another major issue that is giving sleepless nights to the Home Ministry as over 70 districts in the country are affected by Left-wing extremism, which has been described by the Prime Minister as a "virus" and the biggest internal security threat.
Malegaon blasts | Controversies after Mumbai terror attack
In the continuing Naxal violence in and around a dozen states, over 600 people, including over 175 security men, have been killed till September this year.
To deal with the menace, the much-awaited special anti-Naxal force COBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) is being raised at a cost of Rs 1,389.47 crore.
It has begun its operations, with two initially raised battalions (each of nearly 1,000 personnel) being stationed in Jagdalpur district of Chhattisgarh and Koraput in Orissa. Eight more battalions would be raised in the next three years.
But the terrorist attacks in Mumbai took the wind out of the sails of the Home Ministry as the first ever assault by terrorists using sea route saw the security establishment coming under the scanner. Over 180 people perished in the Mumbai carnage.
The NIA Bill, passed by Parliament, will have concurrent jurisdiction and empowers the central government to decide what constitutes terror and investigate such strikes in any part of the country. The offences include challenge to country's sovereignty and integrity, bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and ships and attacks on nuclear installations.
Unsolved blast cases of the nation
The measure also provides for constitution of special courts to try offences under the NIA Bill and provide for summary trial.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill defines that any act which is intended to threaten the unity and sovereignty and cause panic in people by using bombs, dynamites or other explosive substances, lethal weapons, poisonous gases or chemicals -- including biological, radio-active and nuclear -- constitutes terror.
It provides for deterrent provisions like detention without bail for up to 180 days and enhanced penalty of life imprisonment for those involved in such activities.
In a major step to insulate the country along its 7,500-km coastline dotted with 180 minor and 12 major ports, a Coastal Command is being set up.
Check out Sify.com year ender special
All coastal states and union territories have been directed to carry out vulnerability mapping of the coastal zone and consider giving digitised identity cards to sea-faring personnel and fishermen.
More news on Indian politics | More India news | World news
| Slide Shows | Columns | Calendar
Share | 
Print | Rate 
