“If I can hear what the terrorists are talking amongst themselves, it is an advantage. I have added information. If I am able to see the terrorists inside a room — where they are positioned, how they are hiding, what they are doing — it is definitely an advantage for me. Quite a lot of this equipment is available. And if the equipment is available, one should know how to use it and one should have it in one’s armoury. You never know when it can be required,” he said.

“In France, I was speaking to our counterparts in the Special Force there. They said whether it is a small item or whether it is a big equipment which they require, they are able to procure and get what they want between three days to three weeks. That is what we need to address,” he added.

On why the NSG didn’t use gas inside the buildings where the terrorists were holed up, Dutt said that the move could have had an adverse effect on children, pregnant women, cardiac and asthmatic patients.

“Instead of getting to terrorists, we may be causing unnecessary casualties. We had gas grenades and gas shells but we thought it prudent not to use them. A colleague suggested use of gas through the air-conditioning system. I said we just don’t know who may be the victims. I ruled it out. I was not in favour of using gas,” he said.