WITH the first round of talks failing between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan on terrorism, we have another book on the terror attack on Mumbai (November, 26 2008). The one on November 20, 2008 was marked by a number of flaws in the security; the command structure for fighting against terror came to light in a painful way. Close to 10 terrorists, well equipped with arms, landed on Mumbai shore and took positions in strategic pre-planned places and ran amok, maiming innocent Mumbai citizens. Since India in general and Mumbai in particular have faced many acts of terror, the angst has been much more intense after this attack.
Anyhow the Central Government brought in new legislation with the hope that the legislation would help in preventing the future acts of terror. Pakistan was confronted with the evidence that the terrorists came from their soil and that the Pakistan government was answerable for the acts, irrespective of the fact whether the perpetrators were state or non-state actors.
The book is a compilation of articles which analyse the phenomenon of terrorism and where the contributors have tried to analyse the events from various angles, apart from discussing law, role of sate, pattern of investigation, the prevalent laws, the responses of civil society, the role of media and what not.
The editors say that instead of feeling frustrated at Pakistan’s dilatory tactics, we should secure the country and society and “influence the course of events in India and the world outside, by ensuring justice for our own people who are marginalised and suffer persecution.”
(Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd, B1/I-1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area, Mathura Road, New Delhi-110 044.)
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