Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has admitted to the lapses on the part of intelligence and security agencies in averting the recent Mumbai terror attack. “I agree that there has been a failure on the part of the security forces and intelligence agencies, but this attack will help the government to be more determined in combating terrorism,” he said.
Chidambaram was speaking with the media at the state police headquarters here today, after visiting the sites of the terror attack of November 26 and holding a meeting with senior police officials and home ministry officials. He visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), the Taj and the Oberoi hotels and J J Hospital, where majority of injured are undergoing treatment.
Speaking about the possible involvement of Pakistan's notorious intelligence agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), the newly-appointed home minister said: “There is ample evidence to link the attack to organisations or entities which have been responsible for terror attacks in the past.”
“However at this stage, it would not be appropriate to name any organisation but you can draw conclusions,” Chidambaram said.
He also said that there is a proposal to set up an intelligence agency at the national level similar to that of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He added that plans in this regard would be announced in Parliament. “The investigation into the attack has been entrusted to the Mumbai police’s Crime Branch and a clear picture will emerge in their report, which will be submitted before the court,” Chidambaram said.
“There are speculations and I have read reports linking the terror attacks to Dawood Ibrahim. We have taken a note of it but cannot comment now,” he said.
“Terrorists chose Mumbai, famously known as the city of dreams, to make maximum impact across the world. The attack is not only on the city but is a challenge to the soul of the country. I would appeal to the Mumbaikars to summon once again the spirit of Mumbai so that it rises as the premium city of the country. Mumbaikars have showed how to confront challenges on previous terror attacks,” Chidambaram said.
“I have instructed Maharashtra's home secretary to disburse the compensation announced by the state government to the kin of those who died in the attack or who are injured, by December 31. Besides, I have directed the insurance companies to process claims of the victims,” he added.
