Now that the CM is dead, the media is bent upon making more money by telecasting about the conventional search methods and how they failed, blaming the security forces! The Congress must be busy with selecting successor for YSR! And the general public is showing its “usual” anger over the security agencies. But none would think of taking this, as a lesson for future!

It was a trifle matter. The Indian Security Forces could have implemented the GPS system into the security of VIPs long ago... but they did not. And when I ask the reason through media portals, they cut it off using comment moderation!

Believe it or not, there is a system that enables you to track a person to few meters accuracy - The GPS system. Using the system would have cut much costs on VIP security - by reducing land based vehicles and commandos.

And fact is not that India does not know about the system. In fact, it was building its own GPS system - though slowly.

The system was never implented by the Ministry of Defense. The system is capable of tracking movements of any person carrying a GPS cell phone or a GPS transmitter. Had they made it mandatory on VIP vehicles, the CM could have been saved! The system could also have enabled the police to check out the movement of criminals. The system could also have saved thousands of soldiers on the borders by monitoring the enemy activities... But the Ministry never gave it a green signal... The Indian GNSS system was stopped midway. WHY?

CM Story and Responses

All I asked was why there was no GPS unit or Satellite Internet in the CM’s chopper or any of its belongings. If there had been one, the security agencies could have pinpointed his position using the longitudinal and latitudinal information sent by a system of more than 32 satellites.

Just take a look at the comment I posted on CNN and the response I got: ——— This proves how ahead is India in IT sector. While the US people use GPS to play games, we dont even use it for security. If he had a GPS transmitter in the chopper or in his cell, would it have taken this much turmoil?

Every news just breaks the illusions we have about our country’s progress. Why is India not focussing on the GNSS and if it is taking time, why are the security agencies not using the US one?

Hope he is safe!

– Best Regards, Arun Kumar M. Signed: Wednesday, September 02, 2009, 5:00:55 PM IST

Comment 1 Clearly the article mentions that the signals are weak and you speak of GPS and India. The inventor of GPS can’t do anything about it if the weather is un-supportive.

Comment 2

We are in india. we still have lot more things to do.. than playing games on GPS.

Comment 3

This one shows the false-prestige of people. In response to a news clip about India contacting US to help it in tracing the CM by asking for high quality, real time, and detailed map of the area, this lady says that India is begging US for help.

What is this, if not False Prestige... It is the need of the hour... The Security Forces could not implement Modern Technologies when there was time, so they seek help. I don’t see anything wrong in it. How can she say that We re Begging US? What if her own kid was lost? Would not she having being crying sitting outside the police station with officers who won’t even care to listen her? Isn’t it just a false ego?

——————————- And when I try to reply to these comments to educate them about the systems capable of tracking people in real time, they are not let in by the site moderators.

While I think the media should be responsible for educating people, they are currently airing chat shows, and the history of the CM, and his tenure! Of course, you must be watching too many commercials side by side. :0

A Quick Glance at the GPS system: The current GPS system has more than 32 satellites in orbit that send you data about longitude and latitude pertaining to your GPS receiver with few meters error. There are also plenty of ground stations that help with weak signals. Neither weather nor time can affect the signals.

WILL THIS SERVE AS A LESSON FOR THE DEFENSE MINISTRY TO MOVE AHEAD WITH TECHNOLOGY: To Provide Safety to VIPs and FOR OUR ARMED FORCES, if not for tracking criminals.

I RECOMMEND THEY STUDY THE USES OF GPS and satellite Internet... THEY WILL REALIZE WHAT THEY MISSED ON.

LET US FACE IT: THE DEFENSE MINISTRY NEVER WANTED TO SPEND FUNDS ON IMPLEMENTING MODERN TECHNOLOGY. THEY STOPPED IRNSS (The Indian GNSS) MIDWAY. The public funds allotted to the Ministry of Defense never reached SECURITY FORCES... It was spent on the luxury of the ministers under the Ministry!