'Maha DGP did not share IB, RAW inputs with state intel chief'

Mumbai, Dec 1 (PTI) The Maharashtra Director General of
Police received inputs from Central snoop agencies like IB and
RAW on possible terror strikes prior to the 26/11 attacks but
it was not shared with the state intelligence chief, the Ram
Pradhan Committee has said bringing out a glaring
communication gap between the two.

Quoting the then chief of state intelligence, D
Sivanandan, now city commissioner, the Committee report said,
"Another glaring systemic loop hole was observed in the way
intelligence from Central agencies is processed at the state
level in the DGP's establishment."
Sivanandan told the Committee that despite he being the
nodal authority on intelligence in the state, all central
intelligence alerts come first to DGP/CP with no copy marked
to him. He comes to know of such alerts only if the DGP marks
a copy to him. Even proceedings of Multi Agency Centre (MAC)
were not marked to him.
The State Intelligence Department (SID) under him was not
aware of any intelligence alert on terrorism prior to November
26, 2008 even though there were 17 alerts since August seven
2006 talking about the possibility of sea-borne attacks and
of multiple and simultaneous attacks, including three others
with the possibility of Fidayeen attacks.

The Committee noted that after November 26 incident last
year, copies of intelligence alerts are being marked to the
state intelligence chief.
It also found that security intelligence, especially on
terrorism in Mumbai city is handled by several officials: ATS,
Additional Commissioner (Special Branch) and Additional
Commissioner (Protection).
"How to bring about co-ordination and cohesion in their
working ought to be carefully examined by CP with involvement
of all concerned officials. We strongly advise that systems
once placed should not be tampered by successors, as that
seems to be one of the reasons, why in case of real emergency
the instruments cannot be used.
"Revisions are necessary but these should be done after
careful study and involvement all concerned and not on whims
of individuals," the report said. PTI NES
MYR