UPDATE:Pradhan panel slams Gafoor; State rejects finding

Maharashtra Government today rejected the finding of Ram Pradhan committee on 26/11 terror attacks that then Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor had "failed" to lead the force during the strikes last November.

The Action Taken Report (ATR) tabled in the state Legislature questioned how the committee called the head of Mumbai police a failure when it, in its report, had lauded the entire force for handling of the 26/11 attacks.

The report quoting findings of Pradhan panel, probing the handling of the terror attacks, said former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor failed to lead the force from the front.

Gafoor was recently shifted to a low profile post as Director General of Police (Housing) by promotion.

"During the whole operation, he was stationed at only one location near Hotel Trident. There was lack of co-ordinated and visible control due to which a message went to the public that police were ineffective in handling the situation," the report has noted.

The Committee said senior police officials told them that the Commissioner did not guide them or inquire about the ongoing operations.

Even though Gafoor contacted officers on wireless or mobile phone, there was never a feeling among them that they were part of a united force, officers told the committee.The Pradhan Committee report said it was essential for Gafoor to have taken charge of the control room as this would have avoided duplication of efforts on the part of various police units.

However, the Government in its Action to be Taken Report said that Pradhan Committee does not make any clear mention of duplication of efforts on the part of the police. Gafoor's written comments have not been taken on record.

"He had set up a regional control room and was stationed at the place. Till the end, he was co-ordinating with various police units," the report noted.

The report has said Mumbai police or any other police machinery could not have handled the 'war-like' 26/11 terror attacks. It said, that a special force like the National Security Guard (NSG) was needed to face the attack.

The Committee has praised the city police machinery for handling the situation courageously at all the five spots of terror attacks. It has a special word of praise for Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria for his handling of the serious situation.

The panel has said that Gafoor did not ask for any report from the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in the aftermath of the terror attacks. The need of the hour was to analyse and discuss the events in detail to boost the team spirit.The government, however, has said that seeking reports, discussions and analysis after the incidents are not mandatory as per the standard procedures. It said that the lacuna would be fixed.

The Pradhan Committee said standard procedures were not followed during the crisis situation.

According to the procedure, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) heads the disaster management cell and co-ordinates with all the control rooms. Joint CP (Crime) will co-ordinate with the ATS chief.

"The procedure was not followed on 26/11. Instead, Gafoor asked Joint CP (Crime) to co-ordinate the control room. Joint CP (Law and Order) would have been better placed to take decisions regarding deployment of police officials at different places," the Committee said.

The panel has also noted that the present Quick Response Team (QRT) with the Mumbai police is not in a position to handle a terror attack like 26/11.

The Government said it was wrong to say that standard procedures were not followed. Joint CP (Law and Order), who should be in charge of disaster management cell and co-ordinate with all control rooms, was shifted to other urgent work and the decision was taken jointly by Gafoor and then DGP A N Roy.

The report also noted that the Director General of Police (DGP) does not have any administrative limit in the entire state. Hence, there is no question of the DGP having any limitation of using his powers in Mumbai.