10 yrs on...

Many other states do not have specialised forces.

The security audit was conducted on parameters such as: Organization Structure, Manpower Management, Equipment, Weaponry and Mobility. It was found that some states had just transferred personnel from their police departments, showcasing them as a counter-terrorism force.

While NSG has five commando hubs (Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad) apart from Delhi to neutralise terrorist strikes, experts say the key to counter-terror operations lies in faster decision making by the government of the day and rapid deployment of special forces.

“It is up to the initiative of the individual states. For example, as DGP of Odisha we formed a special ops group for tactical roles. It was small group that was specially trained for anti-terror ops in built -up and urban areas,” said Prakash Mishra, former DGP Odisha and CRPF.

“There is enough support from the Centre. Many states, however, accord low priority to creating such special ops groups. Others mistake anti-maoist forces to be special ops groups. They do so at their peril. The task of each is different and needs a different approach. The expenditure to form such a force is small, but the benefits are enormous.”

According to official records, the first shots in 26/11 by Pakistan Lashkar-e-tayyeba (LET) gunmen were heard at 2120 hours on November 26 but the then cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar spoke to the then NSG DG Jyoti Dutt for commando deployment in Mumbai only at 0100 hours on November 27.

The NSG commandos left Delhi at 0300 hours and reached Mumbai at 0600 hours.

The first NSG counter came at 0920 hours at Taj Mahal hotel and the second counter at 1100 hours at Nariman House.

This delay in both decision making and deployment cost lives.