The Challenge of Terrorism to India’s Infrastructure and Economy”, a two-day expo-cum-conference was organised by Security Watch India (SWI) at New Delhi on October 11 and 12, 2011. The seminar was attended by senior officials of the Home Ministry, industry representatives’ and security experts from India and abroad.

Experts threw light on the security preparedness and the solutions to combat possible security threats to critical infrastructure and commercial establishments such as oil and gas pipelines, refineries, ports, airports, railways, power plants, hotels, shopping malls, banks, corporate organisations and VIP security. U.K. Bansal, Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs, gave the inaugural address which was followed by a panel discussion on “Revamping Indian Security Infrastructure to Transform Counter Terror Preparedness”. “It is legitimate to anticipate that countries and entities hostile to the Indian interest will try to extract maximum advantage by attacking our economic and highvalue targets,” said Bansal.

Arun Choudhury, Special Director General, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) said that security personnel in charge should have the independence to take the last call. Former Commissioner of Delhi Police and former Governor of Manipur and Jharkhand Ved Marwah highlighted the need for a terrorism prevention centre, which would be manned by experts who would advise the central and state security agencies.

In the session on “Securing Cities in India”, Brian Seagrave, Vice President, Raytheon Homeland Security, gave out details about the missing surveillance elements in an urban environment—heterogenous threat sensors, sensor correlation and tracking. Tabetha Chandler, Founder, Director, Security Consultant; Facility Technology Services, spoke about the interoperability between police and emergency responders and the lessons to be learnt from the US system.

Tarique Ghaffur, former Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police, London spoke about the community policing system in UK and said that a similar system can be initiated in Delhi as well.

The two-day event also had sessions on “Critical Infrastructure Security”, “Operating in the Cyber Apt Era”, “Asset Protection and Corporate Security for India”, and “Protecting Air and Maritime Assets”.