Cops, commandos say captors’ demands should have been met

By Mubasher Bukhari

LAHORE: Senior police officials and retired commandos of army’s Special Services Group (SSG) believe that the officer who ordered the operation in the Sialkot District Jail could have saved the lives of the judicial officers by giving the hostage takers safe passage or involving political figures in the negotiations.

“Had I been the commanding officer, I would have accepted the five prisoners’ demands and provided them everything they asked for. I would let them escape and try to take them out somewhere along their escape route,” a former SSG officer told Daily Times, on the customary condition of anonymity. “Had their demands been accepted and a bus provided to them, there could have been a dozen chances to kill them or force them to surrender outside the jail.”

He said the hostage takers could not have find refuge anywhere after their escape and the operating team could have engaged them in negotiation in a better way outside the jail.

“The risks involved always escalate when the captors confine themselves in a building with hostages,” he said.

“In 1971, prisoners at New York’s Attica prison took the jail staff hostage, prompting the New York governor to order an operation. 500 troopers participated in the operation and 29 prisoners and 10 jail guards were killed.”

“More often then not, this is what you get if you engage a hostage taker in a confined space in anything but a dialogue.”

A senior police official of the Lahore Police also termed the operation a folly. “Had I been supervising the operation, I would only have gone for negotiations. I would have involved political figures because criminals never believe policemen’s promises.” He said criminals know the police officers would not keep their word and they would be killed if they surrendered.

“Prominent political figures of the areas from where the criminals hailed should have been involved in the negotiations,” the police officer said. He said in June 2002, prisoners at Sri Lanka’s Tangalle Jail had taken 89 jail officials hostage. “The officer commanding the negotiations sought permission to carry out a commando operation, but the government refused.”

Later, political leaders negotiated with the captors and talked them into surrendering. “Only two jail officials were injured during the entire episode.”

Another senior police officer said, “That kind of operation should never have been an option. I would have preferred safe escape for the captors instead of putting the lives of 11 judges and dozens of prisoners at risk.”

Home | National