Author: Rohit Khanna
Publication: IBNLive.com
Date: September 7, 2011
URL: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-smart-bomber-is-terror-a-step-ahead/182197-3.html
Wednesday's blast at the Delhi High Court
has confirmed a growing belief that the terrorist is smarter and working a
step ahead of our security apparatus. Consider this: concealing the bomb in
a briefcase was apt for the High Court.
Litigants, lawyers and visitors to court routinely
carry briefcases full of documents, inviting no suspicion. Gate number 5 was
chosen with care - located next to ongoing construction with scores of people
milling around. And the exterior of the High Court is not covered by CCTVs.
Attackers were equally smart in Mumbai's Dadar
blast on July 13 this year. Experts say, placing the explosive device on top
of a bus shelter, allowed shrapnel to hit the upper parts of the blast victims
causing much higher casualties than when the explosive is at ground level.
Attackers are also making a smarter choice
of target location and time of attack. Security patrolling in sensitive metros
intensifies during the vulnerable time band of 5 pm to 9 pm. 10.15 am was
a totally unexpected time of attack. Targetting the High court helped attackers
achieve two more critical objectives - maximum mileage and showing that they
could strike anywhere.
The blasts confirm that Delhi and Mumbai remain
most vulnerable - the two cities have faced 22 terror attacks in the past
six years. Experts also say the variety of devices used - from a tiffin box
in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar to a briefcase at the High Court - suggest increasing
skill in assembling explosive devices. The terrorists and their handlers,
now also go silent after an attack, making them harder to track.
As a matter of fact, several major attacks
since 2008 have yet to be cracked. Clearly security agencies are merely playing
catch-up with a smarter terrorist.
