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AHMEDABAD - IT'S a cycle India has seen repeated 13 times in nearly three years: Bombs are planted where they can kill as many as possible. Investigations follow, memories fade and, months later, bombs explode in another city.
But with 552 people dead since October 2005, security forces remain chronically undermanned and ill-equipped. The political elite seems unwilling to take the sweeping action experts say is needed to stop the bloodshed.
'What has been done between the last attack and the latest atrocity to augment our ability to stop terrorists, to root them out? Nothing,' said Mr Ajai Sahni, a former chief of India's domestic Intelligence Bureau.
He noted that in a country where millions of people worry every day about finding enough food to eat, 'every politician knows that security issues don't win or lose elections'.
At least 49 people were killed in the latest attacks: 16 bombs ripped through Ahmedabad last Saturday, a day after seven smaller bombs had left two dead in the technology hub of Bangalore.
By Tuesday, police had traced an e-mail taking responsibility for the blasts and two cars used in the attacks. At least 30 people were held for questioning and one person was arrested.
The authorities also offered a US$120,000 (S$164,000) reward for help in arresting those responsible. There was little expectation that the police would come up with anything more than that.
'These terrorists are never caught. The politicians are only talking. The police only know how to take people's money,' said Mr Ashok Patel, echoing oft- heard sentiments in India.
Experts say that for things to improve, there must be a major revamp and expansion of India's security forces.
Making matters worse are politicians who appoint loyalists to top police posts and look to the forces as a source of patronage and a tool for going after rivals, Mr Sahni said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TERROR ATTACKS STILL A THORN IN INDIA'S SIDE, REVIEW
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