REPORT

Government Had Advance Report

NEW DELHI : The terrorist attack on Parliament has shocked the nation. That despite advance information that Parliament House was going to be a target of the militants, the Central government strangely has not done anything to face the threat. The result is that innocent people lost their lives and the Indian nation state stands insulted. The Congress Working Committee met within hours after the attack and passed a resolution pointing out the momumental failure of the security system and intelligence. The statement said "The Congress Working Committee met in an emergency session on 13th December, 2001 to express its deep shock at the dastardly attack by terrorists on Parliament House in broad daylight.

The Congress party along with the whole nation condemns this attack and reaffirms the nation’s resolve to combat unitedly the terrorist menace.

The Congress Working Committee conveys its deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for the manner in which the security staff of Parliament and Delhi Police personnel and para military forces gave their lives to defend and protect the honour and dignity of Parliament.

The Congress Working Committee expresses its profound sorrow at the demise of the brave compatriots of ours and expresses its heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families.

The Congress Working Committee cannot refrain from pointing out that the primary task and sole responsibility for safeguarding the security of the nation is that of the Government.

This incident brings out a monumental security and intelligence failure, particularly highlighted by the fact that Government had previous information about a possible terrorist attack on Parliament.

What is truly shocking is that no less a person than the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani said on 2nd December while speaking at the 36th Raising Day Function of the BSF, "we have to be vigilant against the risk of terrorists engaged in terrorism in Afghanistan who have now come to Pakistan, spilling over into our borders. We have to be vigilant."

In an audacious suicide attack, five armed terrorists barged into the Parliament House premises and gunned down seven persons before security personnel killed them on 13 December morning. Seventeen others were injured in the strike. One of the terrorist had explosives strapped to him and blew himself up.

No member of Parliament was injured in the attack. But the Vice President Krishan Kant had a narrow escape. His security men were killed by the terrorists. He himself was expected to step out of the Parliament building at that time.

Armed with automatic rifles, pistols, grenades and explosives, the five terrorists engaged security personnel in a fierce gunbattle which lasted for over half an hour. They also lobbed grenades.

At about 11.30 am the five terrorists drove up to the Vijay Chowk gate, which is the main entrance to the Parliament House premises, in a white Ambassador car (DL-3C/J-1527). The car had a red light on top, a siren and security clearance stickers for Parliament House, the Ministry of Home Affairs and India Habitat Centre on the windscreen.

The terrorist drove through the security barricade without being stopped. Police officials said that the terrorists were dressed in olive green fatigues and appeared to be security personnel.

However, the Parliament security staff became suspicious when on entering the premises the white Ambassador turned left towards gate 12, where Vice President Krishan Kant’s official vehicle was parked. On realising that the car was going in the wrong direction, one of the security guards at the main gate ran after the vehicle asking the driver to stop.

By this time the security staff had been alerted. Among the first to react was the personal security staff of the Vice President, who were waiting next to his car. The security men challenged the terrorists who opened fire at them. The security personnel returned fire. Four of those killed were members of the Vice President’s security staff.

The terrorists apparently lost control of the vehicle and rammed the Vice President’s car, before jumping onto the footpath and coming to a stop.

Five terrorists jumped out of the car. While three of them ran towards Gate 9, one ran towards Gate 1 and exploded there.

Both houses of Parliament had adjourned at 11.06 am — about 40 minutes before the terrorist attack. Nearly 200 MPs including Union Ministers were, however, still inside the Parliament when the premises was attacked.

The security personnel herded the MPs and ministers into the Central Hall and the entire premises was sealed. Party offices in Parliament House were similarly locked for safety.

The security agencies had sent at least four clear warnings that Parliament House might be attacked. The warning further clarified that the attack might come while the House was in session.

Intelligence sources said the Intelligence Bureau and the Army listening posts had been picking up conversations between terrorists hinting at an attack on Parliament House. The conversations had become more detailed after September 11, the day the World Trade Towers were attacked in New York.

Intelligence agencies had sent around 20 warning notices to security agencies and the police, four of which were stated to contain specific information. During intercepts it was learnt that terrorists have plans to attack three other buildings other than Parliament House. These are the Prime Minister’s house, IGI airport and the Taj Mahal, in that order. Parliament House topped the list.

Intelligence agencies have also warned that in all likelihood the attacks will be suicidal in nature and fedayeen squads may be sent to carry them out. Rocket launchers may be used to carry out some of these attacks.

Apart from buildings, the terrorists were also said to be planning assassinations of top national leaders. Army listening posts in Udhampur sector of Jammu and Kashmir were among those which intercepted this information. About a week back the Army dashed off one-line notices to the defence and home ministries warning of an imminent attack.

It appears that the Army had over some time been picking up conversations between terrorists and their controllers in Pakistan. The persons on the hit-list included George Fernandes and LK Advani.

Indian intelligence agencies were not the only ones who seemed to suspect the terrorists intentions. Congress MP Renuka Choudhary said about two weeks back there was a report in a Chinese newspaper about the threat of a militant attack on Parliament House.

She said this had resulted in a Chinese telecom delegation cancelling its scheduled visit to India.

Mumbai City Police Commissioner MN Singh came closest to blaming his counterparts in New Delhi though he did not mention Delhi Police by name. Stressing that "certain authorities did not take seriously" the information passed on by them, he said, "We had passed on information to several authorities on the possible terrorist attacks in Delhi and Mumbai. Singh further said that some of them (the UK and Australian governments) pooh-poohed the claims of the Mumbai police about certain terrorist attacks. "I hope they will now consider it seriously", he said.

The possible attack by terrorists was confirmed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee when, at Sharad Pawar’s birthday celebrations in Mumbai, he said that reports of blowing up Parliament were based on real threats and not a "figment of anyone’s imagination".

Despite the warning, Parliament security seems to have been vulnerable, at least until Thursday. Intelligence reports have been warning about the presence of militant groups such as the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba for some time now.

Yet, the most recent breach on Parliament House security before this incident took place barely a month ago.

The breach occured on the night of November 4 when a man, Majuriddin, managed to hide in some bushes, undetected for several hours despite three police control room gypsies and Delhi police constables patrolling the area.

Even more ironic was the fact that on the night of November 4, intelligence agencies had flashed a ‘high alert’ fearing either a serious bomb threat or fedayeen (suicide) attack in Delhi just before the Prime Minister’s tour of Russia.