Posted on 07/15/2006 6:49:21 PM PDT by blam
It's time India got angry and stopped all this 'bouncing back' nonsense
By Amrit Dhillon in Bombay
(Filed: 16/07/2006)
A backlash against the authorities is taking hold in Bombay, five days after the bombings that killed 181 commuters and injured almost 900.
There is a sense of anger and betrayal among those living in India's commercial capital that the state has failed to protect them from yet another terrorist attack.
A Hindu demonstrator expresses his anger
"Blood has become cheaper than water," said Atul Pataonde, a shopkeeper in the Bandra district. "These bombs keep happening but nothing changes."
To many residents, talk of Bombay's "spirit" and "resilience" - words much deployed since Tuesday - has become meaningless from overuse.
In 1993, 257 people died in the city's first serial blasts - and since then it has suffered 11 further bombings, albeit on a smaller scale. Last week's attacks pushed people's patience to the limit and shattered what little confidence they had in the government, which many accuse of taking advantage of their readiness to absorb pain and hardship.
Raju Rathod, a commuter who jumped off a train moments after a carriage exploded, said: "By bouncing back, we let incompetent politicians off the hook. They know we'll cope. What we should do is get so angry we force them to give us some security."
Over a period of 15 minutes, seven bombs exploded on moving trains or platforms on the Western Line. The carnage left hundreds horribly mutilated and many more deeply shocked. Mr Rathod yanked at the tie of a man buried underneath another's body, only to discover that the head was severed.
Just 12 hours later, in time for the morning's rush hour, trains were running again and satisfied officials noted how, in contrast, it had taken the London Underground three days to resume normal service after last year's bombings.
The public had performed heroically, pulling the injured and dead from wrecked train compartments, but there was little sense of a city in mourning, and as the week went on, anger mounted - not at the bombers, but at the authorities' slow reaction. It took the police so long to reach the seven bomb sites that, by the time they arrived, members of the public had carried away most of the victims.
A visit by the prime minister, and two-minute silences planned for next week, have failed to quell public anger.
"We don't expect much from our leaders, just some basic sense of security," said Sabina Datta, 42, a schoolteacher. "What about metal detectors or closed circuit cameras at stations?"
Bombay generates more wealth, and pays more taxes, than any other Indian city, but most of its 17 million residents feel they get little in return. The city's police force possesses only seven sniffer dogs and even immediately after the attacks there was hardly any extra security at train or bus stations. Only luxury hotels were carrying out checks on drivers.
"It's time we got angry, really angry, at the callous neglect of basic safety in public places. It's time to stop this 'bouncing back' nonsense," said Pritish Nandy, a film producer.
On top of the anger, there was cyncism. The victims of the 1993 blasts are still waiting for justice, and a poll showed that almost 70 per cent of residents thought that those responsible for Tuesday's outrage would never be caught. The police investigation remains confused, despite the arrest of more than 550 people and the naming of three suspects - Zahibuddin Ansari, Faiyaz Kagzi and a man known only as Rahul.
The city's diamond traders, who lost 15 of their number in the blasts, are to bring in their own safety measures, such as smart cards. "We've had enough of empty talk," said one merchant, Pravinshankar Pandya. "We'll have to act ourselves. We can't expect anything from the state machinery."
I don't think anyone should lie down for terrorist attacks.
A sure sign that sh** is about to get squirelly.
L
One wonders about the religion of the police.
Dust off the Hindu Hit Squad and let'em go to work. India, quit acting like pansy.
It looks like the whole world is paralyzed with indecision. No one can seem to figure out how to fight back against a bunch of goat-raping rag-headed wife-beaters.
Eventually, someone has to get angry about living in constant fear of such losers - and start doing something about it.
The same thing could be said by an American about the American government and be every bit as true as the above statement.
I'm thinking privately funded clandestine assassination squads. Works for me...put some fear into the Islamist SOB's for a change.
L
The world wets it's collective panties when Israel defends itself....but does nothing when Islam attacks...
I wonder how difficult it would be to get some Letters Of Marque and Reprisal issued these days.
L
They need to get a little of that Kali mojo going again.
Could it be time to start whipping some "mo" ass globally?
I've read it before. It's awesome. =)
Drawing a parallel:
No attacks since 9/11 and it means nothing, all is so normal, no danger at all.
Normal is: Big Media reveals secret interception methods of terrorists and the cry goes:
It's our right and duty to reveal, just in case there might be a violation of our constitutional rights.
When things go off, as in Madrid, India, London, it's Government's fault, see Indians complaining of not being protected and then asking to throw politicians out.
Ever anybody thinking of the real culprits directing anti Government propaganda while at the NYT.
Yes, we are at war, the media just refuses to accept facts.
Hate of G.W. overwhelms them and overrides U.S. security needs.
A friend of mine from India was telling me that basically the gov't is trying to ignore all this stuff because they just want to keep the engine of prosperity booming. He seemed to think that most people in the big cities would be okay with this idea.
Maybe they want Cheney's 1% solution.
Time for another Gujarat like riot. Estimates ranged from about 750 to 2,500 Muslim vermin killed.
India Gate
The Police Control Room received a call around 10.55 this morning informing about a bomb at India Gate. A bomb disposal squad from the New Delhi District was rushed to the spot.
The area around the monument was evacuated and cordoned off.
By 12.30 pm, after a search of the entire area by policemen and army personnel failed to yield any results, the call was declared hoax.
Though the call was traced to a PCO booth near the Patiala House court complex, police are still clueless about the identity of the caller.
Meanwhile, efforts to trace the caller who warned about a bomb at Akshardham temple yesterday are still on.
According to police officers, the call had been made from a mobile phone. The police said they traced the subscriber, who told them that his phone had recently been stolen.
What happens when a bomb alert is declared
n Every time the Police Control Room receives a call informing about a bomb, it is reported to the local district police, as well as a bomb disposal squad.
Additional DCP (New Delhi) Manish Agrawal says as soon as a call is received, like in today's case, a bomb squad is sent to the area.
If it's a large area, the squad may be split up to speed up the operation.
While the Crime Branch handles some Bomb Disposal Units, the local police too is in charge of some. Along with bomb squads, dog squads are also pressed into action. the call too, is immediately traced. "In most cases, calls are made from PCO booths, so it becomes impossible to trace the callers," he says.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) A S Cheema says bomb disposal units carry special equipment and trained personnel to find and defuse bombs.
Delhi, post 7/11
Thursday, 12:18 am: Call received about a bomb at Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara in Chandni Chowk
00:21 am: another call warns of a bomb at PVR Plaza in CP
Akshardham Temple
00:23 am: another call about a bomb at Akshardham Temple complex in East Delhi
00:25 am: Caller says bomb planted at ISBT
10:30 am: caller claims there are explosives aboard Blueline on route 983, between Nangloi and Uttam Nagar
Email to TV channel in Mumbai threatens that the Red Fort would be blown up at 8:47 pm
The equipment
Vapour detectors
Work like metal detectors but these can detect vapours from nitrate-based explosives such as TNT and RDX.
Bomb Blankets
Heavy blankets with straps on all sides. When a bomb is detected it is draped with this blanket and strapped in. In case the bomb goes off, the impact is lessened considerably.
Bomb Suits
Heavy, fire and explosive resistant suits worn by experts while defusing bombs. these suits are capable of protecting against the impact of an explosion only to some extent.
Throw the muzzies out?
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