National

Ironic we eased security just before attack: Ratan Tata

New York: It is “ironic” that extra security measures, taken after being warned of a possible terror strike, were eased just before the terrorists assaulted the landmark Taj hotel, Tata group chief Ratan Tata has said.

“It’s ironic that we did have such a warning, and we did have some measures,” Mr. Tata told U.S. news channel CNN from Mumbai.

Mr.Tata rued that crisis infrastructure was “woefully poor” and the attacks revealed deficiencies in law enforcement, especially in areas of crisis response and management.

“We are indignant, but not scared,” he said. Although he did not elaborate on the additional security measures, Mr. Tata felt even these steps could not have prevented the terrorists from entering the hotel. The attackers did not come through the front door, where additional security measures were temporarily enacted. “They came from somewhere in the back... they knew what they were doing and they did not go through the front. All of our arrangements were in the front. “They planned everything... I believe the first thing they did, they shot a sniffer dog and his handler. They went through the kitchen,” Mr. Tata said. — PTI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu