Are Indians safe, secure?
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/...dk4iJhE=&SectionName=aVlZZy44Xq0bJKAA84nwcg==
Gopalji Malviya
16 Sep 2008 01:07:00 AM IST
On August 12, 2008, a television channel was announcing a startling revelation by the National Security Advisor that there are 800 terror outfits operating in India and their master-mind is identified.
The print media ran the story as well. The NSA was less than economical with the other details of the revelation. What about their links, sources of funding, networking, political patronage and locations? Even if these 800 cells are unearthed, shouldn’t there be a crackdown to eliminate them? Would proper investigation and charge sheets and trials be possible? Or would they walk away for want of hard evidence? In India there has been lack of political will and assertive decision making to bring such fugitives to justice. Barely a month later, with the Delhi blasts this weekend, the NSA might have to revise his earlier estimate; his claims sound meaningless.
Jammu and Kashmir is facing unrest. The Northeast is unsettled.West Bengal and Telangana are simmering, over 160 districts in 13 states are in the grip of left wing extremism.
While the crime rate is growing, abductions and extortions have almost become an industry. The rangdari and supari culture is now a new brand of threat to the Indian citizen.Money laundering, hawala, small arms proliferation and human trafficking are on the rise. The debate on countering these internal threats, however,has been overwhelmed by politics, rather than deterrent action.While India seems to be safe are Indians secure? Or are we on course to a functional anarchy? India’s current crisis of internal security has been a concern particularly since December 2001. When terrorists assaulted Parliament, they struck at India’s nerve centre; a qualitatively different target; and at variance with India’s previous experience with multiple threats of insurgencies, terrorism, left wing extremism, narcotic trafficking, religious fundamentalism and subnationalism.
The relentless pursuit of potential terror has aggravated to new levels of crisis, resulting in paralysis of the security governance. The number and magnitude of the operational success of terrorist entities are a pointer to the radicalisation of Islamic militants. These radicals, with resources, technology and networking, have acquired the capability to inflict their asymmetric means of offensive with assured capacity of destruction at any place of their choice. There have been two major views on the reasons for the increasing intensity of terrorist activities in India. The first points out that the presence of foreign terrorist groups, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, has significantly raised the level of violence not only in that state but also in other theatres of conflict in India. This has happened not only through support extended through materials and logistics to local militant groups but also by export of terrorism to other parts.
The stage looks set where ‘collective violence’ may emerge a reality with each instance of breakdown in law and order preparing the ground and justification for the next round.
The Indian security apparatus and elite are largely indifferent, or have shied away from formulating an internal security doctrine.
There has been no serious attempt to institutionalise a mechanism, direction or assertive policy to deal with “internal threats”; interim, ad hoc and incremental means have been the favoured methods adopted by successive governments. There is virtually no means to define coherently the enemy within. The continuous assault on Indian citizens and their psyche has shown clearly that the security apparatus has failed to plug the reocurrence of terrorist attacks. The intelligence fraternity gropes in the dark about the actual strength, source, capacity and logistics of the enemy’s next attack.With our domestic security apparatus going so horribly awry we can take it for granted that we will almost never apprehend the killers.
The question is: Is it lack of political will or lack of governance in the security establishment? Politicians and the bureaucracy are already pontificating about the need to reinvigorate security measures to counter these terror attacks. There is need to underscore the fact that there is no clear understanding among our leaders, political class, bureaucracy, business establishment and media of the nature of the security problems and challenges.
Worse, these terror attacks and militancy are seen as merely a “law and order” concern and treated as subject of state, whenever, political violence on a massive scale breaks out in a state, the police become the first responders. The police in India are trained, equipped and mentally conditioned to deal only with civil disorders.When confronted with serious threats to internal security like terrorism, insurgency and other proxy war situations, they find it difficult to respond effectively. In such a situation, the state seeks the expertise of paramilitary forces.
As para-military forces other than Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) are raised, trained and equipped to meet a specific need of national security, when deputed to deal with large scale disorders and proxy war situation, they are required to quickly modify and reorient their operational doctrines to meet the situation at hand. State police need better training and modern equipment to achieve a high level of professionalism.
The creation of a Federal Police or National Militia would constitute an appropriate step to meet the challenge. Frequent alerts and advisories by the central agencies to state governments need a fresh look.
Most important, our most active onlookers — our political leaders — have cynically sought to use the internal disorders and violence to advance their electoral agenda.
Evolving and strengthening appropriate legislation and streamlining the process of judicial conviction of the fugitives is another area that needs priority and attention.
Creation of fast track courts to avoid judicial delay and enactment of a deterrent anti-terror law would constitute an essential step forward. The need of the hour is to institutionalise, develop procedures and processes that would boost inter institutional co-ordination, facilitate professional conduct of operations on a thorough, professional policy analysis.
Lack of professional mindset for informed debate, fierce expression of spite, bitterness and mutual political acrimony take place instead of constructive policy discussions.
Resort to rhetoric without substantive action or operation has eroded the credibility of oft-repeated mantras our politicians regularly spout.
India is engaged in a “war without a front.” The mere deployment of security forces may not bring the desired results. A multiplicity of security forces is also not an answer. Military and security forces can only contain the militancy to an extent, but they will not be able to eliminate it.
About the author: Dr Malviya is Professor and Head, Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras