Mumbai: Refuting allegations by their former boss that they dithered from "responding to the situation" during 26/11, some police officers on Friday said they do not understand what prompted then city commissioner Hassan Gafoor to make such remarks.
"I have submitted my report to the Pradhan Committee
and I am sure it has been mentioned in their report submitted
to the government. I know what I have done," said then
Additional Commissioner of Police (Anti-Terrorism Squad)
Parambir Singh, one of the officers named by Gafoor for not
responding during the 26/11 terror attack.
Claiming that he was the first senior officer to have
reached Girgaum Chowpatty after a police team had captured
lone surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab, Singh told PTI that "I was
seen on several television channels at Hotel Taj and Oberoi.
The whole nation must have seen me. I do not know how he
(Gafoor) could make such a statement."
In an interview to a magazine, Gafoor had said "a
section of senior police officers refused to be on the ground
and take on the terrorists. By doing so, they chose to ignore
the need of the hour."
Apart from Singh, Gafoor has taken the names of K L
Prasad, then Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order),
Deven Bharti, the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime)
and K Venkatesham, the then additional commissioner of police
(Southern Region).
Reacting to the charges, Bharti said "I don't know
what prompted Gafoor to make such statement. I don't believe
in groupism. I don't want any certification from anyone.
Whatever I have done is known to the Ram Pradhan Committee."
While Venkatesham refused to comment saying he has not
read the article, Prasad was unavailable for comments.
Later, Singh also threatened to take legal action
against Gafoor for making such "malicious charges" which has
defamed him.
PTI
First Published: Friday, November 20, 2009, 22:32