Why this blunder over Sachin's security?

Just yesterday, the nation was alarmed when the Additional Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police of Nagpur, Praveen Dixit announced before the media that there was a terror threat to batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar from Pakistan-based terror outfit 'Jaish-E-Mohammad'(JeM). The news came more as a scare than surprise. And since the police chief was making the claim, everyone believed it.

But then, the officials in the central government were surprised as there was no such intelligence input on possible threat to master blaster. Hence, in a complete U-turn, the same Praveen Dixit saying that there is ‘no specific threat’ to any individual player and there is ‘no threat input’ or any threat to Tendulkar other than what was received in 2002. Earlier, he had told the media that the police had received an advisory from central agencies about a terror threat to Tendulkar.

But why did a responsible officer like Mr. Dixit go on to create an environment of scare minutes before the Team Indian landed in Nagpur? If there was no threat as of now, then why was the Nagpur Police chief referring to a warning issued by the Central security agencies in 2002? Was it an over adventurous act? Or a politically motivated move just to score limelight thinking that it was such an emotional issue?

Speaking before the media, Mr. Dixit made false news public while ignoring to make contact with the central officials. This is a serious breach of official act. The message is sent across the nation and Sachin’s fans and followers are worried about his safety. Since the master blaster is the darling of millions in this country, any news regarding his persona needs to be disseminated only when it is true.

In recent time, there have been cases of clear lack coordination between the officials in at central level and the states over information sharing. Ego clashes, petty personal motives and lack of integrity are some of reasons that not only hamper the intelligence inputs in this country but also the information sharing, which intimately cause greater damage. Terror attacks are clear manifestation of our failure in intelligence gathering and information sharing.

Will it not affect his performance when he goes to bat in the final Test starting from 6 November? We hope it should not. However, people need a valid explanation from the police chief of Nagpur.