Thirty-two months after an Indian Institute of Technology professor was killed on the campus of the Indian Institute of Science, “terror” returned to the pensioners’ paradise that no longer is, shortly after lunch this afternoon.
The question is not why Bangalore, but why did it take so bloody long?
Seriously.
Why did it take so long for these smart-assed sons of bitches to set off half a dozen bombs just as we were about to hit the sack for our afternoon siesta in our “sleeper cells”, when they could have done it yesterday, or day before, or last week, or last month?
The rocket scientists dressed as “intelligence sources” and “security experts” are already busy adding one and one and making it eleven: It was a Friday. It happened at 1.30 pm or shortly thereafter. Ergo, you know who was behind them.
Those bearded, fez-wearing, menacing-looking guys who procreate like hell, send their children to madrassas, and receive their cheques from strange places.
Any time now, the State government will blame central intelligence agencies for not alerting them. The Centre, in turn, will blame some unpronounceable outfit whose benefactors are across the border.
By primetime, the Prime Minister (depending on the toll obviously) will make a macho statement something to the effect of “We will not cow down to terror”. The Union home minister, whose very sentence-construction sends terrorists scurrying for cover, will pronounce that “such incidents will not deter the government from pursuing its policy of dealing with terrorists in a resolute manner.”
Tomorrow morning, the Congress which is in the opposition in Karnataka will blame the BJP, which is in power, for being interested in anything but governance. The BJP in turn will blame the Congress for revoking POTA and making this a soft-state. Editor types will stand up and say it is time for “moderates” to speak out.
And just when the TV guys were rubbing their hands in glee that something finally had happened to keep them busy over the next 36 hours, bam, the toll is just two. How do they fill “We, the People” and “Big Fight” and “Weekend Edition” this weekend?
Yes, it sounds all too flippant.
Two people have killed, several more injured, how can we be so joyful and jokey about such a serious “menace” like terrorism that is “eating into the vitals of our system” and taking “innocent lives”?
We would.
If they would.
The truth is security in India is a joke. You know it, the terrorists know it, it’s just that our political and administrative and police masters think that we don’t. So, like Pavlov’s pups, we are supposed to feel concerned about what happened in the “IT capital” this afternoon; we are supposed to slam terrorism “in no uncertain terms”.; we are supposed to light a candle in our hearts and mourn.
For what?
Truth is we have been there, done that, and bought the lousy blood-stained T-shirt several times before: in Hyderabad, in Bombay, in Delhi, in Jaipur, in Coimbatore, and not necessarily in that order. In buses, in trains, in markets, in temples, in auditoriums.
And you don’t need rocket scientists dressed as “intelligence sources” or “security experts” to tell you that it will happen again in Hyderabad, in Bombay, in Delhi, in Jaipur, in Coimbatore, and not necessarily in that order, in buses, in trains, in marekts, in temples, in auditoriums, some time soon.
Hopefully, later if not sooner.
The truth is security in India is a joke. Unfortunately, it is on you.
This piece also appears on rediff.com
Photograph: Karnataka Photo News
Seems like Bangalore turn has come these muslim terrorists just want to scare people away ,after seeing so many incidents unneccesarily created by congress once BJP took over in karnataka,it looks like congress is creating all this confusion.
To blast a bomb they need to be lucky just once… To be alive we need to be lucky all the time….That’s the difference…
btb nice article
Perhaps it is those tonsured monks who roam wearing maroon and yellow.
Or perhaps it is those bearded, white robed chaps who carry a cross.
Or perhaps it is those dhoti clad, twice born idol and fire worshippers.
Maybe it is those other bearded chaps who carry a knife with them.
Maybe it is the IT guys who wanted to delay a Friday delivery.
Maybe it is the government since they wanted to make it appear as if someone else did it.
Maybe we are all fools. May we all await our turn to die in a blast like this.
Did any one watch our Devvegowda speaking on TV? He says if the state government had not chosen key police officers based on the caste, today’s mishap would not have happened. While making such a stupid statement, his face beamed a mischievous smile. God save this country, not only from terrorists, from Devvegowdas too!
Now our MMS will have some sleepless nights, coz some misguided youth (of minority community ) has been involved.
Terrorism is not just a security issue. Its a political, economic, social war that jehadis, islamists are fighting against non-muslims, globalization.
Politicians understandbly have vested interest of votebank (though every indian muslim is not a terrorist and actually revoking POTA that was upheld by Indian supreme Court stigmatizes indian muslims), not sure why media is not digging deeper into this menace of Islamism, jehadim.
A much worse future awaits India in the coming years and decades as these ideologies have spread its tentacles all over india and neighboring countries.
Media has a duty to enlighten people, a role they hardly play.
I am currently going thro’ Ahmed Rashid’s “descent into chaos”- and FUTURE OF INDIA DOES SEEM EXTREMELY BLEAK.
N: I would also add, may be Americas are behind this.
The world has gagged up against religion of peace and trying to defame it.
Churmuri,
What is the point in making sarcastic remarks about the security and intelligence forces, by saying “they will conclude it has been done by muslimes”. What do you expect…should they blame a smartha brahmin for the incidence and absolve muslimes even when they have proof of a muslim invovlement….just for secularism and communal harmony sake you know
:)
When you have a good for nothing home minister who cannot even handle a kidnapping case effectively and a national security advisor, who is more interested in chewing paan and giving clean chits to the terrorists, and a home minister who is more interested in his well groomed looks and political correctness about not hurting the sentiments of the community involved for electoral reasons, these things are bound to happen. We need to learn..nay die with it.
We have reached highest Immunity as a nation to events like this.People flocked to see the spot in Madivala like it was spectacle not to be missed it just goes show the insensitivity set in on us. The immunity is at all levels from center,state governments to the common man. A bomb blast/natural disaster happens first the media blitzkrieg then the blame games among the state & center governments (center – We had warned about it ,state – we had asked for help but were refused) then the usual 1 Lakh compensation and then back to routine life before one more happens.These days the perpetrators are hardly being caught , even if caught the courts take their time to convict them shortly after the higher court quashes the verdict totally while new events unfold.
Relax, folks! All Murthy Angadi employees are safe and business is going smoothly! What if someone else’s blood is spilled, RELAAAXX!
All employees safe: Infosys
A Correspondent | July 25, 2008
Reacting to the horrific blasts that ripped through Bengaluru, India’s third-largest software company, Infosys Technologies Ltd, said that it had increased security on its campus and that all its employees are safe.
‘Bangalore has suffered bomb blasts across many locations today (Friday). The government and law enforcement authorities have assured all citizens that they will investigate and take all steps to apprehend those responsible. All of us support the government in this endeavour,’ the IT major said in a statement.
‘All our employees are safe and there has been no impact on our business operations. We are in touch with the police department to and will remain fully alert. We have increased security on our campus,’ the statement added.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jul/25infosys.htm
is there any thing realistically doable so that security in India is not a joke?
the real joke is the mockery they make after the fact.
but btw is there anything concrete to rule out the pavgada brigade? considering the goings on in and around bangalore in recent days?
in anycase, we knew this was to happen. the Cod is strapped for funds and no babu is willing to take a posting in it.
I had a problem with Omar Abdulla’s talk recently in the parliament. It wasn’t about amarnath or nuclear agreement itself, but the young Abdulla himself. Didn’t he start his rhetoric saying “I’m a Muslim and I’m an Indian…I don’t see much distinction between the two”?
He shouldn’t have. At least not in that order of identity. I mean, he is first an Indian and then a Muslim. To cry out loud, they both are not the same. And they are not even connected. (May be Omar connected them to prove a point that the nuclear agreement is not against Indian Muslims)
Forgiving Omar for his choice of words, I think no country and religion are the same. India is not Hindus. Not Muslims or Christians. None & Zilch. (Of course one cannot be blind to the fact that Hindus form majority and there are sentiments attached with the soil, which will take time to get over)
Because I would want one to be seen as an Indian first or karnatakadavaru or bengaluriga, before his/her blood could boil on any other issue—in most “terror” cases it is religious such as a hindu/muslim/christian. So a connection between place and religion is unpardonable. Being Indian/karnatakadavaru/bengaluriga (or any state or city) is greater than being Hindu or Muslim or Christian.
I don’t think such attitude can be expected unless we create a concept of “Unity by place”. We can definitely make it work with the local populace of hindus/muslim/christian. A Mangalore Christian or Ramanagara Muslim or Shivamoga Hindu would think twice to bomb any place in Karnataka or kill thousands. So will this “unity by place” work to any muslim/hindu of Indian origin before bombing any part of India.
But the only culpable force is madarassas or any such school of learning often funded by extremist who believe religion is bigger to any country or place. (To quote Heath Ledger “The Joker” in The Dark Knight “Madnes is like gravity. All it needs is a simple push”). Such mad schools and cults will always be there and they are the ever-green negative forces. Our constant fight would be against them, but not in a negative way but in the most positive way of Unity by Place. Our tools for this war are employment, good life, and healthy atmosphere. Omar Abdulla gets right here.
I have often thought twice on dropping litters (chocolate wrappers/tissues/cigar butts etc) in any part of bengaluru (or karnataka or India or anywhere) every time the push comes to shove. Why? The sheer love for the place has held me against; I wonder why the same love wouldn’t work when it comes to hands that drop bombs.
@T.Mukherjee
Agree issue is bigger than security! Or else Ahmed Rashid’s assertion that India’s future is bleak wont be surprising!
TS,
It is very unlikely that it is a Naxal attack. They do not have the required sophistication to carry out such an attack.
Anon@25 July 2008 at 9:37 pm
What do you expect them to do ? Go out there with their employees looking for suspects or are you expecting them to donate money to people who died/injured ?
Anon@25 July 2008 at 9:37 pm:
Infosys as a business house is doing what its expected to do for its employees, clients, share holders.
Are you doing what is expected from you as a citizen?
Anon,
Relax man…even our state home minister has not issued a statement so far or neither our CM. Murthy Angadi is a business house and they are safeguarding their employees, but the question is the government whose responsibility is to safeguard the common man is doing its job properly. Look in the above photo, Katta Subramanya Naidu(IT portfolio ?) and Shobha K are deputed to the blast site. Where is Dr.Acharya or Yeddi and why there is not statement from them yet.
The present blasts in Bangalore is a handy work of some Cast Hindu Brahmins to gain sympathy from the Central government. It has been observed that the more the number of blasts all over India, more the sympathy factor. Probably like the Muslims, the Brahmins will also get the sympathy from the HR minister and get the minority tag and enjoy the benefits of reservation.
hasnt the PM lost his sleep because a lady got killed in todays blasts ?
The bigger joke is certainly this one..this is a little harsh one.
‘IT sector to get CISF security: Home Minister’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/IT_sector_to_get_CISF_security_Home_Minister/articleshow/3280859.cms
Why not regular citizens?
With the ongoing over-population (and governments doing nothing about it the past decade) – there will be thousands of people, if not more, who will be willing to blast bombs at public places. For various reasons.
The government cant go after people they suspect among millions. It will be like finding a needle in a haystack.
However pin-pointing the places where these bombs are manufactured, the network which helps plot these blasts and provides infrastructure is something the government can quite easily identify and neutralize.
A RAW like state agency with sweepings powers, a budget, no interference from politicians and access to necessary technology and a few totally dedicated people at the top could dismantle wannabe bombers and schemers in a few months. And giving this agency some vigilante powers will break the back of these networks and cut them off from their sources (which may be abroad and thus not in our reach).
In conjunction with the right political touches (talking with local community leaders etc. – after all most people dont want bombs going off where they live), the problem can definitely be contained.
Whatever people have to say about KPS Gill – the Punjab problem was solved partly because of the way his team took on the terror apparatus.
Things like this have been also been done in other countries – even islamic countries (Saudi Arabia, Iran etc.) which have kept their aspiring terrorists in check.
The thing is – our local state political/bureaucratic setup, who cant even solve solve-able basic problems of over-population, education, mass migration etc. – how can we expect them to do anything? They are either bothered about their own power and money or are just paralysed by the ineffective systems they have built up for themselves.
Even a private agency, given the right powers and incentives might deal with this problem more effectively.
On the other hand we can just take it the way we always do – roll with the punches. Someone punches us in the face, and we just get up, wipe away the blood, pity ourselves a little and carrying on as if nothing happend.
My gripe is with Rediff, not Infy.
‘Murthy Angadi’ is an affectionate way of referring to them.
Mayura>>What is the point in making sarcastic remarks about the security and intelligence forces, by saying “they will conclude it has been done by muslimes”.
This attitude of Indian Press, media is one of the primary reasons why India is weak in handling Jehadis, Islamists.
They have very little idea abt the real goal of this movement. Or the damage its doing to India, including Muslims in short as well as permanently.
They are in denial.
Its proved once again few days back when they hero-worshipped Abdulla Junior’s speech in the parliament while fact remains most of his talk on tolerance, amarnath yatra etc are piece of crap.
However, sooner or later, they will realize the right way to handle this menace is to MAKE IT AN ELECTION ISSUE as state by KPS Gill.
Dharma, what do you mean by CAST HINDU BRAHMINS? Do you have any non-hindu brahmins? Don’t try to drag a Caste into bomb blasts. By looking and analyzing the sequence it can be made out that it a well-planned, sufficiently trained group that has indulged in this dastardly act. Condemn the crime, punish the guilty, help in nabbing the culprits, if you can. Passing very vague remarks ….No, at least not for the well educated and balanced people
“Appease, appease, appease. Hope they will stop.” Sorry India, you can not change the nature of the hyena by requesting it to become a herbivore.
By the way, this act seems like a trial. A dry run. Proof of concept has been executed.
Ghazni did the same thing; trials first, always.
WTC was attacked multiple times prior to 9 eleven.
They are practicing; they are working hard while p-secs, nehruvians, gandhivaadis, naxalvaadis, gowdavaadis are busy having pissing contest trying to drown Hindus.
They are practicing; they BELIEVE and they are working hard. While p-secs, nehruvians, gandhivaadis, naxalvaadis, gowdavaadis are busy having a pissing contest trying to drown Hindus.
We all know its a big joke…everyone who went to school knows that… I take that back…everyone who has commonsense knows that..BUT what are we doing about it? WHAT? WHAT?
where is security better accord to you? security in America [most developed nation] is better? poor ppl in wtc were wrkin n kaboom…
security? i think is is the media which is the real terror. they are the one propagating the terror, you may say they are informing us, keeping us updated n all…otherwise instilling fear.
hu is benifited from such acts. one industry i know for sure are the news channels. i speculate that media planned n executed the “low intensity – bombings”. its outrageous but i guess you n i will never know. we are not supposed to know.
free press. supreme judiciary . elected representative – tripod of democracy. think again. wat happens if all the above can be bought? you get an AMERICA
F**king hindu blames muslim, that f**king muslim blames of prejudice, f**kin victims blame f**kin government for not compensating, f**kin state government blames f**king central govt, f**king central govt blames f**king jehadis in f**king country, f**king country claims f**king innocence.
F**king churumuri blames us!
We f**king bitches deserve this, after all we f**king care when such a thing happens. We don’t give a shit if its not us …. even when its neighbour. Tommorrow, We f**king forget this & start F**king move on !
Well, the SIMI network is definitely is now in focus. The group is well established in Karnataka with many of the non-kannadiga capitation fee engineering students and well paid IT/BOP employees volunteering their intellectual services. These misguided youth operate in stealth mode with full support of certain madrassas, however what is strange is that both the state and central Govts do not take swift actions like the Israelis do.. eg: Switching off all mobile networks instantaneously, extensive spy networks and definite death sentence for the culprits.
dude its fucking
Churumuri at its best: Skeptical, provocative, compassionate… and beautiful composition too. The prose is as smooth as a poem, despite the grim subject. Why isn’t this fine piece also published on Rediff?
Just pointing to the facts doesnt make you great. Why dont you come up with solutions?
Sounds shallow, I know…but a very well written piece, churumuri.
Has anyone considered the possibility that this might be the handiwork of Naxalites? Just a thought.
GK3S!
Somehow I doubt it! This requires too much of precision planning with regard to timing and explosives. I don’t think the Naxalites have so much of ‘local logistics’ support and the expertise to pull it off!
Re Sathya, all these days all the bomb blasts all over the world, except some parts of UK, has always been done by the Muslims. In India it has always been the Muslims who have done this. What has happened? They do not catch them, they do not want to blame that community, but they enjoy all benefits as they are a vote bank for the congress. If the home ministry really want to apprehend them it can be done in no time. They do not want to do it. Now that no party get a clear majority the Muslims play a crucial part. So it is.
The central government is making the Hindu Brahmins suffer for what happened 1000 years back. But what about today? The Central Government says that there was no Sri Rama and it is only a mirth and a story and want to go ahead and destroy the Adam’s bridge. Will they say the same thing about any Minority faith? With all this our PM can sleep well.
Name the terrorists, they get shelter from their own people, put a tag on them and things will change.
Hardcore groups like LeT, JeM would strike to kill, not warn. So CM is right that this was an attempt to malign the BJP. But why is churumuri taking an ambivalent stance on terrorism displaying a loss of mental balance ?
During Jaipur blasts it came up with an obnoxious piece equating mass killing by terrorists on the same plane as death due to consuming spurious liquor. IT wondered if the latter was less important because only poor people died ? The crux of the churumuri’s argument – and other pseudo secularists – is incidents of terrorism should be played down in the interest of maintaining communal harmony.
Articles like the above that takes a moral high ground, blame everyone collectively (wonder how the woman killed was individually responsible for her untimely death) and say “we the people are responsible” is just an attempt to project a “progressive” image while glossing over the harsh reality: that terrorism is NOT perpetuated by the hindus, buddhists, jains, jews, christians, confucians, sikhs, quakers, Jehova’s Witnesses, Animists, zoroastrians, neo-pagans, scientologists, bahais, unitarians, Taoists, shintoists, spiritists, cao dais, rastafarians and followers of other lesser-known religions.
Get the drift ?
Excellent perspective and great writing
Civilian security is a joke, yes, but what does Churumuri expect us to do? Stop going through the motions because it seems so cliched and hackneyed? Stop shedding some crocodile tears? Stop flexing our mental muscles? Stop blaming each other?
The picture accompanying this piece is proof that looking at the wrong end of the problem is a national malaise. Churumuri too falls into the same trap. Instead of being jolted awake at every terror act, we need to stay awake in between every terror act.
We need to ask, demand, question, prompt and force better training for our police and intelligence, better equipment for search and scan, better techniques, better leadership. But when top level police appointments are usually functions of caste, community, favouritism, nepotism, etc, we might as well expect pigs to fly.
I really felt very sad after learning about the bombblasts in our Bengaluuru. Ellinda elli bandubittidivi?
Our ‘s was a very peaceful city with a blessed climate.
Where are we now? We have to live under threat and a sense of insecurity.
I also blame the lackadaisical attitude of our police and security agencies. If delhi had informtion, why didn’t they send it to state government??
Agastya has a point there.
The uncontrolled immigration is also one of the reason. The uncontrolled migration –> no one knows no one –> A city of strangers –> Easy hideout for Terrorists – Make sense?
@ Dharma
Are you Devvegowda in disguise? Or his PRO? No one on this earth, excepting Devvegowda can not make such stupid statements. You may please approach Devvegowda for a position of his Press / Propaganda Secretary.
@SM
That lady was not from a minority community, so our MMS has slept peacefully.
@ those-who-demand-better-public-protection
Seriously, this is India! We are a population explosion already.
Do you rilli-rilli-reaally expect public protection to improve….like significantly…like ever?
Even Delhi, probably India’s most thoroughly policed city – with its Mobile Police vans at every corner and large security-requiring VIP presence and restricted areas has been a past victim of terror.
Even if, in the years to come, we develop a strong and proactive public ethos- dil-maange-more’ing is not going to change things.
Face it, we are going to be victims of terror, and public authorities will remain as reactants…acting after events.
As a public we condemn all….the terrorsists, the govt, the police, the polity, the media, the sympathisers, the haters…and also cry foul about ‘how things could happen the way they did?!’
We might do better with crying out for things that can be changed- like the RESPONSE AFTER such happenings – the things that can be changed. Medical attention. Investigation. Decisive justive. Shitty things that don’t work now, but could, and have a major impact on things as a whole…..Rather than collectively participating in blaming the failure to correctly crystal-ball a public tragedy.
To me it appears that there is no concerted effort in improving internal security. Being unable to get to organizations across the border seems to give our politicians the excuse to blame them. However there are organizations in India that are getting their act together in terrorist activities and we sure can do something about this. Enacting laws and acts is no good if we do not take any action. We need to increase the funding and personnel involved in anti-terrorist operations
Very well written. As it happened today with Ahmedabad….it will happen over and over and over again as our castrated men in Delhi continue to make empty rhetoric statements.
No wonder, rest of the world doesn’t take us seriously.
Nectar BigSmoke Narayan!
Sir, we had a perfectly good law called POTA which allowed our security agencies to be more proactive in intelligence gathering. POTA was a big help in preventing many attacks and rounding up loonies of religion. Also, seriously we may have to do the ‘dirty’ a la Israel by simply silencing the perpetrators and their leaders–HVT’s high value targets. I think that is the ‘action’ you are referring to perhaps?
english media are already up their sleeves that the blasts at bengaluru are an act of some locals..
who can be called as locals??
http://enguru.blogspot.com/2008/07/bomb-sidita-mattu-bhadrate.html
Why is it that during incidents of this nature, the outrage of our media and the elite is shown towards everyone else except the people responsible for the crime. We curse our government, security apparatus, leaders and the public at large. But we never talk about taking action against the real people who are responsible. It is never to late to apply necessary corrections in our legal and security apparatus and take a strong stand against incidents of this sort. It is very well to say that POTA or other similar acts did not prevent such incidents but this is like saying crimes happen in spite of the police having weapons, so they should not carry weapons.
bellad,
“The uncontrolled migration –> no one knows no one –> A city of strangers –> Easy hideout for Terrorists – Make sense?”
Makes sense.
If press releases by the cops are to be believed, already the cops are talking to muslim community leaders about ‘north indians’ who had come in recently as the main link of their investigations.
Similarly with the naxal problem, invariable the guns, bombs and hate propaganda seems to flow in from outside.
Same with the IISC attacks, where outsider plotted and executed the attack.
Almost always it is these terror attacks and problems are carried out by outsiders who take advantage of easy migration.
who is the author of the article i need to kiss him.
A little boy often heard thumping noises from his parent’s bedroom. One night, he crept from his bedroom and peeked into his parents bedroom and saw his mom on top of his dad.
The next day he told his mom what he saw and wanted to know what she was doing on top of his dad. His mother was shocked and embarrassed at the same time. She tried to make it look very casual.
She said, “Oh, your daddy is too fat, so I was trying to slim him down.”
The boy then immediately replied, “It’s no use because the lady next door comes around when you’re not in to blow him up again.”