16 November,2009 09:21 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
State cops only suitable for bandobast, not capable of tackling 26/11-like situations, says Spl IG Suresh Kopade
Fed-up with the way the police tackles terrorist attacks, Special Inspector General of the Mumbai Police Suresh Khopade has prepared an action plan to ensure that 26/11 like terror attacks aren't repeated.
Khopade has made a study of 16 police stations in North Mumbai and prepared the report, which he believes can be applicable to all 86 police stations in Mumbai and also other cities like Pune.
In-depth report
The report is based on interviews with over a hundred policemen.
Khopade submitted his in-depth report to former state DGP S S Virk, Mumbai's Commissioner of Police D Sivanandhan and Additional Chief Secretary Chandra Ayyangar in August. This is the first time Khopade has spoken about his report.
Khopade said one of the problems the police face is intelligence gathering. "I also found that there's very little dialogue between the police and the public. Presently, our police force is good for VIP bandobast and traffic control. We need to remove the lacuna," he added.
"I have recommended how each of Mumbai's 42,000 policemen can help in collecting intelligence. Besides, I have suggested how the rift between senior and junior officers can be removed."
Khopade, who had first introduced community policing in Bhiwandi in 1984, said that providing training and latest weapons aren't enough to tackle terrorism.
"The traditional mindset of police has to be changed," he added.
