'Gujarat police prepared to counter 26/11 like attack'

On the first anniversary of the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, Gujarat Director General of Police S S Khandwawala said that the state police is fully equipped to thwart any terror attacks. "We are fully prepared and are also taking pereventive actions to counter any such incidents from taking place again," Khandwawala told reporters after paying tribute to those killed in the Mumbai attack last year.

"We have good commandos and technologically advanced weapons to counter terrorism," the DGP said. When questioned about the quality of equipments, the DGP said, "All our equipments have been personally examined by a committee of senior officials from our department and they have found it to be of good quality." Referring to the 1,600 km long coastline of Gujarat Khandwawala said, "Also on the coastline we have set up new police stations. We are doing joint patrolling with the Indian Coast Guard. Also there is co-ordination with the Indian Navy in the Arabian sea."

On November 26 last year, ten armed terrorists who attacked the financial capital of India, had hijacked a boat belonging to Gujarat fisherman and used it to reach Mumbai. All the five members in the ill-fated boat Kuber were killed by the terrorists. The DGP further said that nine teams of marine commandos are being trained and would be deployed in coastal areas of the state. He said that they have already purchased ten hi-speed boats for the marine police stations, and process was on to get 30 more such boats.

Khandwawala was of the opinion that general awareness among people was also an important tool to counter terrorism. Hence, the police department has begun awareness campaigns, especially in the border and coastal areas. "The awareness campaign has already begun in some areas and is likely to be streamlined soon," he added. Khandwawala along with his other colleagues also lit candles in memory of those killed in the dastardly attacks. They also wrote messages on a banner which would be handed over to the Mumbai police.