Indian papers flail intelligence failures in Mumbai attacks
Posted: 28 November 2008 1443 hrs

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NEW DELHI: Indian newspapers on Friday slammed the government and intelligence agencies for failing to prevent the Mumbai attacks, saying the country's anti-terrorism forces were ill-prepared for the militants.

"Mumbai Maimed, Nation Shamed" read the banner headline in the Mail Today, which said "the country's intelligence agencies had no clue of the impending attack," despite spending huge amounts of money on anti-terror measures.

An editorial in The Hindustan Times reflected the tone of much of the coverage, saying that "losing our best officers to frontal assaults is a brave but utterly hopeless way of fighting modern terror.

"It is time to learn... that global terror cannot be fought without transforming our national security."

The Times of India editorial, titled "It's War - Mumbai attacks challenge the nation to fight back," also questioned why anti-terror agencies had failed so badly.

"How well do we run them, how well-resourced are they, and is there proper coordination among them to maximise and collate information?" it demanded.

Noting the time lost in deploying special forces, the paper said: "The point is that even in circumstances where personnel and infrastructure were available, planning and execution are shockingly poor."

The Indian Express editorial poured scorn on the secret services, demanding "what are the intelligence mechanisms that failed to pick up a terrorist plan with as much micro-planning as this one?

"What can be done so that this does not recur? Because without working through this question there can be no closure."

Other front pages exclaimed "Terror Uninterrupted," "In Flames and Fighting" and "Mumbai At War."

The Hindu too took a caustic tone, saying that India's "fractious and often bitter religious politics has not helped in keeping religiously motivated terrorism in check."

All papers honoured the 15 or more security personnel were killed, including the head of Mumbai's anti-terror squad.

"An officer and a gentleman lays down his life," read one tribute to a dead officer.

- AFP/yb