Saluting the hero

The world got to know of the efficiency and capability of Indian Special Forces only after 26-11. India’s might was established across the world. Powers backing the terrorists must have realized it is futile to wage organized war against a country with such strong and efficient force. JK Dutt was praised by all and sundry for his efficient handling after Mumbai police had failed to control the situation. In fact, Mumbai police and STF had lost more men than they had killed; even some very senior officers including the likes of Mr. Karkare had got killed. If there was one man who planned and executed an operation to kill or capture the attackers and who achieved his mission with minimum loss of men and time, it was Jyoti Kishan Dutt.

J K Dutt a 1971 batch IPS officer of W. Bengal cadre worked for 15 long years in the Central Bureau of Investigation. At one time, he was tipped to be the Director CBI, when he was recommended by Central Vigilance Commission for the post. A post-graduate from St. Stephens, JK Dutt had a very good and distinguished career as an IPS officer.
While in CBI, his most remarkable assignment was the successful handling of Purulia Arms Dropping case. He has served as Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for a while and retired as the Director-General of National Security Guards (NSG). NSG shot to fame internationally through very successful and result-oriented handling of Operation Black Tornado, also remembered as 26-11 or the infamous Mumbai attack. Needless to say, it was none else but JK Dutt who masterminded the entire operations against trained militants from Pakistan.
The world got to know of the efficiency and capability of Indian Special Forces only after 26-11. India’s might was established across the world. Powers backing the terrorists must have realized it is futile to wage organized war against a country with such strong and efficient force. JK Dutt was praised by all and sundry for his efficient handling after Mumbai police had failed to control the situation. In fact, Mumbai police and STF had lost more men than they had killed; even some very senior officers including the likes of Mr. Karkare had got killed. If there was one man who planned and executed an operation to kill or capture the attackers and who achieved his mission with minimum loss of men and time, it was Jyoti Kishan Dutt.
It is a pity that we Indians do not know how to treat or honour our heroes. When he retired from service, everybody was hoping that the Government would give him a befitting position. Considering his expertise and accomplishments, his services would have been more useful for the country than the post for him. We honoured those with lesser achievements than him. Names of few who had never gone in the actual battlefield yet got killed are on every one’s lips. Unfortunately, the man who was the brain behind the operations, whose deployment of men and resources and astute management of a strategy that worked led to final subjugation of militants, has been allowed to go on retirement like common men. This great son of India’s contribution has been forgotten, merely months after his retirement.
JK Dutt doesn’t talk about all this at all! On the contrary, he proudly tells that he is presently involved as a Consultant with Jaiveer Institute of Integrated Security (JIIS). “We are trying to tap that segment which is interested in seeking security deployment in the private sector. There is a huge requirement for trained security personnel in the Industry. Any small industry that is set up requires security. The Government, which is setting up food processing units and other industries, may seek services of trained security instead of CISF, whose services may be deployed elsewhere, at a more productive place.” JIIS has recently procured land in Himachal Pradesh for training purposes.
About Operation Black Tornado
Life Watch quizzed JK Dutt about Operation Black Tornado and the real difficulties that he had to encounter. “Initially I was told that the operation is to be conducted at the Oberoi, The Taj and Nariman House. I made three teams and planned accordingly. When we went to Taj, alongside there was a multi-storey Taj Tower and when we went to Oberoi, there was Trident tower next to it. So immediately we had to deploy our men in 5 teams. We neither knew how many men were inside, nor was there information about the weaponry they had or the number of civilians inside.”
“When did you come to know that it was a terror attack?” we asked. In response, Dutt says: “While I was in Delhi, I was getting visuals on the TV. We were hearing different versions. Somebody was saying it was a gang war, somebody was saying they were organized criminals. IB and Mumbai Police too were in doubt. Mumbai police were actually calling it a gang war. I got a call from the Home Ministry, he asked my view on it, and I said to him that in my opinion it was a terror attack. In gang war, criminals do not go about killing indiscriminately. Before I received any call from Government, I had already told my officers that we need to be prepared.”
Do you think we have learnt lessons from Operation Black Tornado, we asked? “Yes, we did learn lessons,” says Dutt, “I hope you will agree that talking about it in public won’t be in interest. Because if we talk about weaknesses, it will be wrong and if we talk about our strengths, the terrorists may come well prepared next time. I gave a confidential report to Government after the Operation and it was a secret document.”
About our working
“But one thing is certain,” we asked? “We learn our lessons late! We created NSG after the hijacking of plane to Kabul. We created SPG after Indira Gandhi was gunned down by her Delhi police guards. Even then, we used to provide SPG cover to serving Prime Ministers and due to this we lost one of the most charismatic leader that India has seen, Rajiv Gandhi. After the Mumbai attack we have realized that there is a need to station the forces at more than one place. Don’t you think we are one step behind all the time?”
Says Dutt in reply: “You talk about not being prepared. One needs to be a visionary for this. I joined as DG-NSG in August 2006. In December, 2006 I had sent a proposal to the Home Ministry that there was a need to set up 4 NSG hubs, one each at Kolkatta, Chennai, Mumbai and either at Nagpur or Hyderabad. As it happens in India, Ministry had a look at it but they talked about making a committee. A committee was set up which used to meet every two months or so. They said they will examine setting up one more hub. Then the Mumbai attack occurred and we decided to go for several hubs. They asked me how many men will be required, how much infrastructure will be required, I said all this is in the file that I had given in 2006.”
“Don’t you think another major problem today is that we are reluctant to take decisions,” we asked Dutt, to which he replied: “It is true, especially when financial proposals are concerned. I think such delays start when things are not done correctly. If you are transparent, nobody can stop you. Singapore has a system in place where if anything relating to arms, ammunitions, weaponry, etc. is required there is one body that takes decisions. They do not get bogged down with the procedures. Such systems should be put in place here as well.”
“What level does our Special Forces stand compared to the best in the world,” we asked. Dutt pointed out to the Operation Black Tornado saying this is proof beyond doubt that we are the best in world. However, he added, “There are a lot of things that are involved. Let me illustrate it with another example. NSG is using certain type of pistols. When we wanted to purchase these pistols, we had to look at all the options available. In the USA or Europe, if somebody wishes to purchase a pistol, he goes to an arm dealer and asks for the entire variety. In India, there is no arms dealer who can show you the choices. We have to route all these through the Government.”
“I give you another example,” says Dutt. “When I was in NSG, I was told that the DG had the power to purchase equipments worth 10 lakh of rupees for testing. I was interested in purchasing a very small communication equipment that could send photos from inside a room. We sent for permission to purchase it. But we got back the response that the DG had the power to purchase, but only from the approved list.” If the purchasing has to be from approved list, it should not be for testing. “In Europe you can go to any shop to know what all they have to offer. In India, you have no choice to know what is available until you approach various companies.” Dutt adds that NSG has changed tremendously since then and whatever he is talking about is till his tenure.
“It has been randomly debated that the Intelligence agencies in India do not share information with forces. Do you agree to this?” we asked. Says Dutt in response: “This question should be addressed to the Intelligence agencies. One thing is certain, if there is some intelligence which is relevant and need to be shared, our systems should be such that there is no delay. I had handled the Purulia arms dropping case and I found that a letter was sent from Delhi to the State Government on the basis of some information that we had procured. The concerned officer on whose table this letter landed didn’t realize the urgency. By the time they opened the letter, it was too late. Is it the failure of the system or is it the failure of a person in a system? If an organization fails, sometimes you blame the leader for it and sometimes you say the entire system is at fault.”
“And finally,” we asked, “God forbids if something happens again in near future, do you think we are better prepared now”. To which Dutt responds: “I think yes because now two hubs have been created. Lot many men and equipments have been added. We definitely have learnt lessons.”

“Dutt’s experience and expertise need to be capitalized”: Zaidi
JK Dutt has been one of the most able officers in the Government. He has been a visionary. And he has been a great achiever, both in terms of the work that he has done and the results that he has got. Life Watch asked social worker Zaheer Zaidi, who happens to know Dutt intimately, his views as a common Indian. Says Zaidi: “It was remarkable the way he handled the entire operation. The highly trained SPG was used with great efficiency. The world got to know of SPG after the Operation Black Tornado. Few men acted like an entire army. India’s greatness further got inscribed on everyone’s heart.
I was under the impression that the Government would never leave JK Dutt and his experience and services would be utilized in national interest. It seems we look out for more yes men than devout deliverers. The highest of the gallantries and awards should have been reserved for him and his team. Yet, nothing like this happened. A man who made each Indian proud, who has such great contributions to his credit has been forgotten so soon.”