Road Map for Control of Terrorism in India

Road Map for control of terrorism in India

The growing menace of terrorism poses a formidable challenge to the civil society bringing civilization on the brink of disaster. It is needless to elucidate that loss of innocent lives in terrorist activities and trauma it has resulted in the society propelled me to write this article with complete focus on solution functionality, which to my understanding can curb terrorism to a great extent.

India being a very large country, with complex problems clouding socio economic fabric, multi pronged, and pluralistic approach will be instrumental in curbing terrorist attacks which are hitting head lines every other day.

The following measures are suggested:-

1. Short term measures:-

1.1          Administrative measures

Luggage check by public transport operators: - It is impossible for police to check luggage round the clock 365 days. Police can only do brisk and discreet checking.   In order to encourage the operators to check the luggage, luggage checking format with the provision of entering passenger’s basic details and signature or thumb impression should be there. This information and possibility of taxi / Auto driver having a better look on the passenger can be ensured.  A terrorist about to commit a crime is likely to exhibit certain distinctive psychological behavior

·         May show tensed up gait.

·         Unusual generosity to driver

·         High concentration

·         May not be able make eye contact continuously if questioned.

In order to sustain above measures transport operators are to be given financial incentives which citizens will be interested to bear for safety. Incentives may be redeemable against filled in format with certain logical limit and may be adjusted with tax payable. 

1.2 Technological solution:-

A high speed scanner on certain stretch  of the road should be able to detect explosives by virtue of its infra-red signature. It is pertinent to mention that such scanner is already available in the world as created by Wugiang Yang of Manchester University.

Infra-red camera, rudder etc. are also the possibility for use which has the technical potential to detect explosives inside the vehicle.

Since billions of dollars are being spent in order to develop a full proof system, India should join in this venture along with the universities in India and abroad. We may also like to involve the Research organizations, interested talents across India. It is possible to create a platform in this connected world where people can share their expertise in co-ordination with the designated governmental agency that can support the sustainability of the research effort and be empowered to procure required gazettes / explosives in a designated place in the select cities. Interested research groups can be connected by Internet/ Video conferencing during a time, which will be convenient to most of the people.

Unfortunately terrorists seem to take the advantage of the connected world more often than the sane people.

1.3           Intelligence Network: -

Involve local people for gathering information regarding whatever is happening in the locality. A huge intelligence gathering across India within reward scheme for providing information can retard terrorist activities. If any terrorist is captured, it is important to understand his mind by psychoanalyst, Social psychologist by soft and empathetic approach rather getting into punitive third degree methodology right from beginning.

It is also important to maintain confidentiality after thorough dialogue with Media since every time details of investigation is known to everybody by national media, terrorist are getting smarter. Uses of wireless network, refraining from usage of mobile by terrorists are pointers to this fact.

1.4  Political Solution

A federal body involving top legal brains of the country, may be constituted for curbing terrorism from legal standpoint, whose recommendation after debate in parliament’s upper house, may be constitutionally enacted as binding to all political parties and states. It must be remembered that counter terrorism measures should be enforced respecting  international human rights obligations and the basic tenets of the Rule of Law, otherwise it will be self defeating.

1. Medium Term

2.1  Audio Visual Campaign:-

An all out audio visual campaign should be launched in order to counter the hate preaching by certain fundamentalist groups. It is important to study religious scriptures line by line in order to counter the misuse by certain misleading religious leader. Removing terrorism from the minds of people is more important than militarily fight terrorism. Broad minded religious leaders from all cross section of society should be requested to preach people for great cause of national harmony. The superior ingredient of religion can be translated into a motivation that will sanctify society".

2.2  Conference Room Solution

In the event of brewing conflict in the society, bring the leaders of opposing groups to the conference room. Otherwise even a small discord can aggravate to a great turmoil.

2.3  Rationing Negative News Reporting

It is important to ration negative news reporting in the media. Too much of negative news reporting round the clock is changing the social psychology irreversibly.  It is important to highlight that many positive and innovative activities are taking place in society. Otherwise terrorists will bask on the sensionalism created in media.

2.4  National Forum

It is suggested to create a national forum with online participation of talents all across India not for only discussion  but take decisions on issues of great national importance in consonance with Ministers and IAS officers and political leaders of different parties within the constitutional framework. Following Model may be suggested. Let us create a National Channel and involve talented media personalities from NDTV, Times Now, Headlines Today, CNN etc. evolving an enlightened society to curb the menace of terrorism.  Media brains can anchor the program with the focus on solution functionality rather than only capturing opinions or sterile intellectual exercise. Channel should allow detailed discussion involving an audience all across India either through physical presence or by video conferencing, Internet etc.  Decisions should be taken on the channel itself and Ministers and IAS officers should prepare resolution on the spot itself and read out to nation. It may be noted many discussion in NDTV ushered in epoch making initiatives from Government especially in Indo –Pak relationship. Hence suggested model will be instrumental in encouraging  many initiatives from Government for better tomorrow.

2.5  Invoke Liberal views in the society

Let us involve pious souls like Shri Ravi Shankar, Monks of Ramkrishna Mission and other religious institutions. To my understanding, some of the monks of Ramkrishna Mission are intellectual giants not only because of their knowledge of religious scriptures, but because of their amazing liberal views on social and political issues. Nation should be open to such great souls in our troubled times who can provide radically different solution acceptable to all conflicting parties.

1. Long Term Measures

3.1  Educational Campaign across country:-

Through out the world it is the education which is the ultimate solution for all social problems.  Most of the social problems are arising out of people’s ignorance. Hence Government should invest maximum amount in Education- more than any other sector. One can even do the deficit financing in this area, considering whatever the amount that will be spent today, its effect will be offset by the goods and service generated by the more educated people, as a result of the education drive. It requires no explanation that educated and enlightened individuals will definitely promote peace and harmony in the society.

3.2  Socio-Economic Solution

Oppression and wide spread neglect of human rights and denial of  hope of better future for common people are the fertile ground for breeding terrorism.  Social, economic and political disparities in a large scale engender conflicts within the State and beyond.

Policy makers should ensure that a balance is maintained all across India. It is not important to have world class facilities only in select cities, it rather important that most of the people in India should be put on survival economy. Any meaningful endeavor to resolve conflicts and terrorism will have to ensure enjoyment  the full range of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by the citizens. Political leaders have to rise above narrow interest and  limit the uneven economic development in India as much as possible. It may be argued that all out development in all villages in India will require astronomical amount and India may not have so much of resources. But on the contrary, amount required to curb social unrest and terrorism is not less either. At least let us share resource judiciously for the unfortunate section of the humanity. In that process, all of them may not live in prosperity but they will not starve either. Once we start contributing something for the nation with little honesty and sincerity, a miraculous result will follow- and that my belief.

3.3    Defusing religious extremism:- One major  factor leading to terrorist activities for imposing so called religious or ideological intent needs to be defused by counter campaign which will convince people regarding the rationale of non violent approach against hatred policy of  misguided fanatics. Society’s condemnation  to a climate of religious bigotry, which leads to discrimination, harassment and attacks on all those who are believers of other faiths, has to be very strong, otherwise indifference of the society to such acts will only encourage fundamentalism. Government must encourage, fund and protect NGO who will be focusing on defusing religious extremism.