Mumbai: Anti-terror squad chief sacked for revealing too much

During the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks, one of the major complaints of the commandos was that the media was revealing secret information which was helping the terrorists plan their next move, prompted by handlers across the border. The over enthusiasm of the spokesmen to brief journalists was deplored by many security experts.

But no one seems to have learnt any lesson. In a major shake-up, the head of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Additional Director General K P Raghuvanshi was sacked on Thursday after he was criticized by the Centre for disclosing some information following the arrest of two suspected terrorists in Mumbai. He is being by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria, who was praised for his active role in eliminating the terrorists.

Raghuvanshi has been shunted to the state’s law and order department as Additional Director General (Law and Order). Maria met home minister R R Patil after the reshuffle. The Union home ministry had come down heavily on Raghuvanshi for disclosing "more than sufficient" information to the media after the arrest of two terror suspects, who, police said, were planning to attack the ONGC office and shopping centres in the metropolis. The premature disclosure resulted in a investigative team losing out on a vital Pakistan link in the terror module.

Raghuvanshi was appointed the ATS chief on June 11 last year after the Bombay High Court pulled up the authorities over the controversial killing of Hemant Karkare in 26/11 terror attacks.

- Asian Tribune -