'Police ignored Intelligence Bureau warning' -- An often-heard news report after every act of terror either committed or busted. Be it the blasts in Hyderabad, Ajmer, Uttar Pradesh or Ludhiana, the first statement by the IB has been that their warnings were ignored and then follows a blame game between the two wings of the police.

For the common man, it makes no difference as to who was right or who was wrong. The only thing that concerns people is that a disaster has occurred and that their lives were no longer safe.

If the IB's claims are to be believed, one wonders why cops choose to ignore such alerts?

Let us cite the example of the Ajmer and Ludhiana blasts, which occurred in a span of four days. The IB says it had warned the police about a possible strike at the holy Ajmer Dargah three years in advance. The police, however, rubbished this claim. It is a known fact that security was slack at the Dargah when the blast went off.

The argument meted out by the cops is that it is very difficult to provide for security in places of worship as it upsets a lot of people. The same argument was meted out after the Mecca Masjid blasts in Hyderabad. The IB had warned of an attack at the Masjid, following which security was tightened. However, due to pressure the cops were forced to stop checking and frisking as it hurt the sentiments of many. Taking advantage of this, extremists managed to cause havoc here.

The same was the case at the Ajmer Dargah. Immediately after the Ajmer blasts, the IB sounded a warning stating that more such blasts could occur and security should be beefed up especially in places of worship. However at Ludhiana, the blasts took place at a theatre in which over 40 people lost their lives.

Here too the IB said that their warning had been ignored. The police, however, argued that the warning was regarding places of worship and nothing about a theatre.

Now take for instance the case of Karnataka and the recent terror plot, in which two persons were picked up for allegedly trying to spread a reign of terror in the state. The IB says that way back in 2001 it had warned of a Jamaat group entering the state. The warning was ignored and till date cops have not able to find the group. This has created a scare among people as they feel that this group could be anywhere and could strike at will.

It is just a clash of egos, says a police official who did not wish to be named.

At times, police does not take such warnings seriously as they feel that they are taking orders. For a policeman the last place he wants to be in is the IB as he feels that being transferred to this department is a step down in ranks.

The police say that on several occasions, the IB never passed on information and in a bid to save their skin came out with statements regarding a beforehand warning.

The IB says that the information is not specific at all times, but under no circumstance should it be ignored. The police, on the other hand, say that it is not possible to provide security in all places at all times and the public has to be more vigilant and cooperate with the police.