The foremost concern to-day is Internal
Security. All the governmental machinery must jointly find solutions to deal
with the obstacles in ensuring security. As the country confronts a wide array of complex
internal security threats. Each of these needs to be dealt with in different
ways.
Increasingly
also, they call up a closer cooperation between the Centre and the States.
Since this
problem is no longer confined to a single state but encompasses several states,
Integrated functioning in a federal set up such as ours, where law and order is
a state subject, It is not easy but we must find ways and means to deal with
this situation and rethink some of our past practices.
Accessing The Situation
In order to
deal with this issue, the main stress has to be on---
- Capacity
Building and Upgrading the Capability Level of the states (as also that of
the Centre).Capacity building at the state level is most crucial, and if
there are any financial constraints, the Centre should be willing to
provide necessary assistance. It is an urgent need to improve the number
of security personnel to tackle this as without effective law and order
socio-economic development would be next to impossible.
- More attention is needed to improve the
'Technical Hindrances' for the maintenance of law and order and peace.
This means improving
intelligence generation and collection, as also the overall strengthening of IT
Mechanism.
- Analytical capabilities need to be
enhanced. Proper benchmarks need to be established against which progress
and performance can be measured. The development in the North East and
Jammu & Kashmir also needs to be reviewed. The Chief Minister’s of
‘the North- Eastern states and J&K’ shall recognize a fundamental
reality, namely that in dealing with problems of peripheral states and
societies. We need to be especially sensitive to the nuances of each
situation and the encyclopaedic character of regional and tribal demands
which if not anticipated and dealt with in time, could culminate in a
full-fledged militancy. States like Manipur and Nagaland in the North East
appear especially vulnerable today. There is little scope for personal
predilections that override national considerations and requirements. The
same can be said of J&K. Even though the situation has shown signs of
improvements these past two years. We should remain on our guard in view
of continuing efforts by anti-India and anti-national elements to whip-up
emotions and transform these into a violent movement.
Naxalite Movement
- The approach to the Naxalite problem needs
a blend of firm, but sophisticated, handling of naxalite violence with
sensitive handling of the developmental aspects. It is in the most
neglected areas of the country that Left wing extremism thrives today.
These are also the main recruiting, grounds for naxalite outfits. While
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh are in the
forefront of naxal related activities today, many other states remain
vulnerable. Authorities must personally take in hand what deliverables are
possible even while preparing to meet naxalite violence through effective
law & order measures.
- The real key in the fighting naxalite
violence is the presence of ‘Good Intelligence’. This would involve
effective integration of strategic and tactical intelligence, properly
leavened with ground level information available at the level of the
Police Stations. The Police is the first responder in naxal-related
situations, and is a very important pole in this entire effort sensitizing
the Police is therefore a critical requirement.
- Special training for Forces engaged in
naxalite operations is equally important. Andhra Pradesh has an excellent
training establishment for anti-naxalite operations.
- An 'Empowered Group' of Ministers is
constituted headed by the Home Minister, which include selected Chief
Ministers, to closely monitor the spread of the naxal movement. The Group
could meet at frequent intervals and review special measures that need to
be taken, nature of assistance, to be provided in order to facilitate
furtherexchange of personnel between States.
Terrorism
- Concern about the increasing activities of
externally-inspired-and directed-terrorist outfits in the country is justified.
Intelligence Agencies warn of a further intensification of violent
activities on their part, with the possibility of more 'fidayeen' attacks;
use of suicide bombers; attacks on economic and religious targets;
targeting of vital installations, including nuclear establishments, Army
Camps; and the like. Reports also suggest that terrorist modules and
'sleeper cells' exist in some of our urban areas, all of which highlight
the seriousness of the threat.
- These are serious matters and we must find
ways and means to deal with these decentralised micro-terrorist outfits.
This will necessitate greater alertness on the part of the States and Local
Intelligence Units, as, also the Police who possess a local advantage.
- Unless the 'best constable' is brought into
the vortex of our counter-terrorist strategy, our capacity to pre-empt
future attacks would be severely limited.
- In the battle against terrorism, the role
of the public becomes more vital. A major effort is necessary on our part
to sensitise the public into becoming allies in this war and persuade some
of them to function as counter-terrorist 'wardens' who would report on any
kind of unusual activity.
- Similarly, co-opting the Media and getting
them to play more positive role would be useful and this should form part
of an overall Media Management Strategy. None of this will, however, take
place without your personal direction and involvement.
- The responsibility to ensure that this
does not happen lies squarely upon all of us. It is unfortunate that
terrorism has resulted in certain sections of our populations being
targeted, with the result that a wrong impression has been created on the
radicalization of the entire specific community. It is, hence, imperative
that we embark immediately upon a proactive policy to ensure that a few
individual acts do not result in tarnishing the image of an entire community
and remove any feelings of persecution and alienation from the minds of
targets.
- All religions recognize the existence of
certain 'sacred values'. We should seek to highlight the commonality of
such 'sacred values' and campaign against pernicious ideas and
philosophies such as the "clash of civilizations”. Instead we should propagate
the idea of a 'confluence of civilizations'.
- 'Sacred values' are the ideals which are
transcendental in nature. We should encourage sober elements in all
communities to agree to a proper articulation of 'sacred values' for
dissemination among people. Both education and the mass media must be
actively encouraged to promote, this integrated vision.
In dealing with
terrorism, scrupulous regard and respect for fundamental human rights of citizens,
particularly of communities, ought to be a core concern of our law enforcement
agencies. No innocent person should be harassed in our struggle against
terrorism. If a mistake is made, effective remedial corrective measures must be
taken well within time constraints. Government agencies, particularly law
enforcement agencies must establish intimate contacts with community leaders
and show adequate sensitivity to their concerns.
So the
responsibility lies not only the government but the people by themselves must come
forward in order to eradicate this nuisance of not only the Terrorism but also
of the Terror.
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