Indian authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel following warnings that Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based militant group, is planning an attack over the New Year weekend. Police officers and paramilitaries were on high alert across the country, including in India's financial capital, Mumbai, Indian officials said. House-to-house searches were under way in some areas of the city, which was attacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba in November 2008. Airports and railway stations, the city of Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat and the popular beach resort state of Goa were also on high alert following the warning, said to be based on "human" intelligence and received in recent days. Most of the locations covered by the alert had been visited by David Headley, a Pakistani-American and member of Lashkar-e-Taiba who travelled widely in India before the Mumbai attack.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk, December 28, 2010
India has been plagued with myriad problems, but none as devastating as the problem of cross-border terrorism. No simple solution can be offered. The government must be on high alert at all times, improve intelligence and tighten security processes. But these are only reactionary measures. Countering terrorism requires a comprehensive solution, one that involves policy changes, systemic reforms and tough implementation.
Police and other security forces reforms
- Improving the salary and benefits of security forces is extremely important. Facilities like good schooling for children, housing and adequate retirement benefits will enhance the ‘national sense’ in the people who are going to cover our backs. Patriotism and the sense of sacrifice cannot be cultivated on an “empty stomach”, especially when you can see your political bosses stuffing themselves!
- The police force must be equipped with high quality armour, weapons and other gear so they can effectively counter well-funded and techno-savvy terrorism.
- A strict law must be passed to control and bring to book the activities of every organisation in the name of religion or charity. Security agencies must be empowered to periodic review and monitor these organisations.
- We, as citizens, must also co-operate in the processes that provide us security. Every citizen must have National Identification Card with a biological code, and produce it on demand without any ado.
- Where terrorism is concerned, quick judicial action and severe punishment are necessary. Once caught and interrogated, judicial action should be finished as quickly as possible. Quick deliverance of justice will ensure that terrorist organisations do not get the opportunity to free their imprisoned fellows through routes like hijack or kidnap.
- The entire nation must have a common education syllabus up to high-school. This way, a common history, compulsory languages and a common ethos can be cultivated among children. Religious bodies should not be allowed to open institutions of basic schooling, and religion should not be taught in schools; religious education must, entirely, be a personal and private matter, to be dealt with at home.
- Ideally, every adult youth, male or female, must be conscripted in to the army for a minimum period. However, there are infrastructural and resources issues involved in this. Hence, at least NCC training during the three years of college must be made compulsory.
- Vote bank politics must take a back seat to long term perspective on this issue. When it comes to national security, investigating agencies should be given complete independence and support by the all political parties.
- After the Mumbai Terror attacks, we have seen the lack of co-ordination and brick batting among the top security and intelligence spy agencies of our country (Navy, RAW, etc.) There has to be a common framework designed for these different authorities to come together on sharing information, planning and action, including disaster management.
Terrorism must be eliminated wherever it exists. It is
an on-going process and cannot be successful without the support and everyday
involvement of all the citizens of the country.
© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.
