26/11 could have been averted

Mumbai cops had paid heed to a specific intelligence report two years ago

Had the Mumbai police paid heed to a specific intelligence alert, two years ago, that terrorists were planning to use the sea route to attack Mumbai, the carnage on November 26 could have been averted. The attack claimed 188 lives and left over 300 injured.

A senior IPS officer from the Crime Branch had circulated the alert message to his units, and had cautioned his staff to be extra vigilant during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The letter states that during interrogation some arrested militants had revealed that the Pakistan Navy was imparting navigational training, particularly to LeT terrorists, along with selected cadre from other 'tanzeems' like Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed etc.

The then Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Meeran Borwankar confirmed that the alert message was received. She added, "We did discuss the possibilities during a combined meeting and were also concerned about the same."

Another IPS officer said, "We do receive such alerts regularly, but one should understand that Maharashtra has a 720-km coast and manning it with limited resources is impossible."

He added, "Terrorists need not come to Mumbai's coastal area to offload explosives like the 1993 incident. It is a known fact that oil pilferages happen mid sea and at times instead of oil, it is RDX that changes hands and we can do nothing."