Execute quickly, guard our coasts

Quick execution of death penalties or other punishments for perpetrators of terrorism is a necessary, but not sufficient, step.

Quick execution of death penalties or other punishments for perpetrators of terrorism is a necessary, but not sufficient, step. Timely executions send a strong message to potential terrorists and provide much-needed psychological relief to the traumatised victim families. But we also need a separate set of laws to deal with anti-national crimes, in order to quicken the pace of prosecution. It is shocking that it took nearly four years to decide Ajmal Kasab’s fate in an open-and-shut case.

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Since Mumbai is the ‘preferred’ target of the terrorists, our civic authorities, the state government and defence personnel should device an integrated plan to prevent and control such attacks. Citizens will also have to be watchful about new or dubious neighbours and their movements. Eternal vigilance is the need of the hour. — YG Chouksey

The police and military should be more vigilant
Ajmal Kasab’s execution will act as a deterrent to other terrorists, who will now think several times before attacking India. If our judiciary is faster in awarding sentences, this will work even better. Besides this, the government should keep Mumbai on a permanent high alert and our military and police should be more alert too.

Among India’s neighbouring countries, Pakistan and China are our biggest threats. In order to protect our borders, the army should be more vigilant. — Faizan Javed Jamaluddin

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SN Kabra, businessman, Goregaon

Citizens must participate, report suspicious activity

Carrying out the death penalty for Ajmal Kasab may or may not be a deterrent for future terrorist attacks on our country. Prevention is better than cure, and India needs to strengthen its intelligence in order to anticipate such attacks at the planning stage itself.

Our borders should be sealed so that illegal migrants — often used as pawns in such attacks — do not enter the country.

Also, we need to provide our police with hi-tech weapons so that even if our foes manage to cross the border, they are captured before any damage is done.

People’s co-operation is also a must. We must bring any suspicious people or activities to the notice of the police immediately. If we follow such security guidelines religiously, it would be very difficult for our enemies to unsettle our nation.