Which force could be behind the serial blasts at Bodh Gaya? Were the blasts designed to spread panic more than they were intended to kill? One has to keep in mind that when the bombs went off, the Buddhist temple premise had very few visitors. Ajit Doval, former Director of Intelligence Bureau, joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the matter.
Q. The Information Bureau (IB) is always at receiving end - info not shared, info of general nature, info not in detail, info received late. Has IB ever got credit for the job done in national security or does it pass off as a work done as part of the assignment? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. As a secret organisation The Information Bureau (IB) voluntarily does not exercise the right to reply. This often leads to some ill-informed criticism of its role and performance. IB does not hanker for organisational or individual credit. However, the fact that many serious national security challenges have been tackled successfully with intelligence support by IB is good enough credit for it. Different governments have acknowledged their seminal role in countering national threats and it is rated as one of the five best intelligence outfits.
Q. The fact that Bombs have been used, you need not do much to conclude that the act is Terrorism in nature. How come the Indian Mujahidin has already been named as a suspect? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. I think it is unfair to draw conclusions before evidential leads become available. However, theories built on past conduct, threats issued, circumstantial details, ideology, possible motives etc. help in exploring the facts. Giving vent to such probabilities by the media should not be mistaken for their apportioning the blame.
Q. The present one and the past at Bangalore BJP office have a commonality that the improvised explosive devices (IED) were of low intensity and not targeting a large section of persons. Does that mean that the act is of some small players and not a high level act of terror? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Too weak a co-relativity to draw any such inference. It can be true but more corroboration will be required.
Q. The media's suggesting that the incident is an off shoot to Myanmar incidents is outlandish. The Information Bureau (IB) here had not denied such comments. Why? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. IB does not follow the practice of corroborating or denying media comments. However, I presume IB must have factored the Myanmar angle in its intelligence analysis.
Q. The Blast scene is visited in close quarters by VIP personnel all they all were moving near the blast site and media storming around was in visuals. The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) guys came late in the evening. Bihar police should have acted more wisely in cordoning of the different blast sites for a better assessment and lead to finding out the who and why of the blast. Asked by: sundar1950in
A. I agree. The scenes of terrorist actions must be cordoned off so that useful investigational leads are not lost. The Ministry of Home affairs needs to lay down strict standard operation procedures in this matter. In the absence of strict government instructions the policemen on duty find it difficult to deny access to the VIPs.
Q. When shall we call a spade a spade and stop refraining from calling Islamic terrorism for what it is and put an end to it with an iron hand? Asked by: Dev
A. The faster we do it better for the country. We can never defeat an enemy that we are reluctant to define.
Q. Don't you think the media needs to be careful in what they report? Don't you think they should let the investigation complete before they reach a conclusion? Does such reporting not influence the investigation as also give fodder for political one-upmanship? Asked by: Anonymous
A. I strongly feel that while media must bring out the facts it should not become presumptive or judgmental before the investigation is completed. The media pressure often diverts the focus from finding real facts to perception management.
Q. Dear Sir, Considering the politics in Ishrat Case and the way our IB & police are demonised and degraded, will it not effect our internal security, particularly when we are on the verge of terrorist target and need to take them head on? Asked by: Satya
A. It will and the cost will have to be borne by the ordinary citizens of this country.
Q. Dear Sir, Don't your think it was a huge lapse on part of Bihar government to sit upon IB's repeated and precise inputs. For how long will these pseudo secular politicians continue appeasing their minority vote banks for the sake of national security? Any way out? Asked by: Satya
A. I think it was a lapse that needs to be investigated in depth and responsibility fixed.
Q. Politicians of the like of Digvijay Singh must be restrained for making irresponsible statements. Does he need to prove his credentials to the family by stupid statements like the one he gave after Batla house encountered? Why cant the family pull him up as such statements affects the morale of the security agencies who are doing an excellent job despite the political pressures? Asked by: Anonymous
A. I think credibility determines legitimacy of political leadership. To remain credible they have to be both correct and responsible.
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