Why did the Indian security forces and RAW fail to prevent the 26/11 Mumbai attack?

 The Indian Intelligence and RAW received numerous intels of an attack on India but it was the lack of coordination that allowed the 26/11 attacks to happen. Like how it’s shown in Dhurandhar, the 26/11 was supposed to be in September-October 2008 as told by David Headley. But due to logistical delays it got postponed. It’s highly possible that an Indian spy told the Indian Intelligence about the attacks and that’s why it was postponed. In September 2008, RAW intercepted a phone call between the LeT handlers in Pakistan. The conversations explicitly mentioned to attack the sea facing locations in Mumbai. In the same month, the American Intelligence told India about an upcoming target specifically on the Taj Palace, Mumbai. The security was tightened inside the palace but when nothing happened, it was loosened shortly before 26 November. The European intelligence specifically the British intelligence also informed India by tracking Zarrar Shah and Headley’s trail in Europe.

On 19 November, RAW intercepted that a fresh vessel from Karachi was moving towards India however the location of the vessel couldn’t be locked down. Seperate intelligence fragments suggested that LeT was undergoing maritime training in Pakistan. The attacks happened because the intel was separate and the coordination between the RAW, IB and the Mumbai police was never aggregated to deduce an attack on Mumbai. Aftermath the 26/11, in December 2008, the NIA was formed which also dismantled and is handling the case of Kanhaiya Lal. Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI also had a huge a huge hand in 26/11 and for that, Pakistan was heavily condemned. The Al-Qaeda and LeT also were planning to attack Delhi that was supposed to be much worse than 26/11. The 26/11 was a prime example of Pakistan’s bleed India with a thousand cuts as Mumbai is India’s financial capital and derail India’s economic momentum and foreign direct investment. By targeting the foreign nationals in the attacks, Pakistan wanted to cause a conflict between India and other nations and also defame the Hindus by framing the attacks as Hindu terror and to trigger a civil war in India.

Mumbai - 26/11 and others

 Serial blasts occurred in Mumbai in 2006. In October 2008, US intelligence agencies warned the chairman of the company that owns the hotel, Mr Ratan Tata that there will be a terrorist attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Security was increased, but was removed soon after. On 21st November, ten terrorists left Karachi and reached Mumbai by 26th November, undetected by the Indian navy.

The first boat carrying around ten of them with several large bags docks at Macchimar Nagar, in Mumbai's Cuffe Parade neighbourhood, where six of the men disembark and the rest continue sailing along the shore. When local residents ask about their occupation, the group responds that they are students.

Two terrorists attack Leopold Cafe, spraying bullets onto the people inside before fleeing. 10 people are killed and many are injured, including a Reuters news reporter. Terrorists also plant bombs in two taxis, killing 5 people and wounding 15. Four of the men enter the Taj Mahal Hotel, two enter the Oberoi Trident, two enter Nariman House, and the other two men, Ajmal Kasab and Ismail, take a taxi to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. 58 people were killed in CSMT and 104 wounded.

Ajmal and Ismail then proceed to the Cama Hospital. The Hospital staff, noticing their approach, lock all of the patients' rooms. The two men reach the Hospital, opening fire there. ATS chief Hemant Karkare attempts to chase them in a jeep, but is gunned down, along with three of his men. The terrorists then hijack the jeep and drive away, but are intercepted by a team from the Gamdevi police station near the pedestrian bridge at Girgaum Chowpatty. Ismail is killed and Kasab is arrested.

Terrorist Ajmal Kasab during interrogation

Swaminarayan Akshardham temple, 2002

After the demolition of Babri masjid, a series of bomb blasts and terrorist attacks started in India with the 1993 Bombay bombings.

1998 Coimbatore bombings, carried out by Islamic terrorist outfit Al Ummah

1996 Lajpat Nagar blast, a market of Delhi

2006 Malegaon bombings, Maharashtra

2007 Hyderabad bombings

On 24 September 2002, two terrorists attacked the Akshardham complex in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, killing 33 and injuring more than 80. India's National Security Guard intervened and ended the siege the next day, killing both terrorists. Six accused were later arrested by Gujarat Police.

Swaminarayan Akshardham temple, Gandhinagar

At approximately 4:45 pm on 24 September 2002, a white ambassador car dropped off two terrorists between the ages of 20 and 25 carrying haversacks and jackets filled with automatic weapons and grenades at Gate 3 of the Akshardham Temple Complex. When the two attempted to enter the Akshardham Temple Complex, the volunteers stopped the armed terrorists for a security screening.

At 4:48 pm, three minutes after the attack began, Vishwavihari Swami, at the Akshardham Temple Complex, made an SOS call to Chief Minister Narendra Modi's office and informed them about the attack. Within minutes, Gandhinagar's district police chief R.B.Brahmbhatt was dispatched to the scene. Additionally, the State Commando force was instructed to also arrive at the Akshardham Temple Complex. Meanwhile, outside of the Akshardham Temple Complex, local individuals mobilised into volunteers.

At approximately 6:45 am, the 14-hour-long ordeal ended with the Black Cat Commandos shooting the two terrorists hiding in the bushes. During this overnight search for the attackers, one state police officer and one commando lost their lives. Another commando, Surjan Singh Bhandari, was seriously injured and died in May 2004, after being in coma for two years. PM Vajpayee said that the attacks were a well thought-out conspiracy to attack India.

2006 Varanasi bombings

In March 2006, the Indian city of Varanasi witnessed a series of bombings in which at least 28 people were reportedly killed and 101 injured. Varanasi is considered holy by Hindus and is one of the oldest living city in the world.

The first blast took place at 18:20 at the crowded Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple near the Banaras Hindu University. Hundreds of pilgrims were in temple as it was a Tuesday, believed to be particularly holy by the devotees of Lord Hanuman, a deity at the temple. The bomb was placed in a container near a gate at the temple where women usually sit. It claimed 10 lives and injured 40.

One other blast followed at the Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station. It occurred in the waiting area next to the travel office. Initially another blast was reported inside the stationary Shiv Ganga Express bound for Delhi; however, this was later discounted. The Shiv Ganga Express departure was delayed by 2 hours, eventually arriving in Delhi 4 hours late but intact. Another 11 lives were lost.

Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba Islamic terrorist outfit, whose member was shot dead in an encounter with police near Lucknow on Wednesday, were prima facie behind the blasts in Varanasi, a senior Uttar Pradesh government official said in Varanasi on Wednesday. Another blast occurred in Varanasi in 2010.

Other blasts in 2008

In 2008, a series of bomb blasts occurred in Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Agartala, Imphal and Bangalore. Major Indian cities were targeted by global and Pakistani terrorist groups to spread fear among the Indian citizens. After the 26/11 attacks, India stopped the peace process with Pakistan and blamed it for cross border terrorism.

2008 Jaipur bombings

2008 serial bomb blasts in Bangalore, carried out by Lashkar-e-Toiba, the attack followed bomb blasts in Ahmedabad the next day