Caution against disruptive designs of terrorist outfits during the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls has come from no less a person than the Prime Minister. The nation cannot take it casually. More importantly, his warning of possible attack by the terrorists during the elections was conveyed to the top brass of country’s law and order enforcing agency viz. DGs and IGPs, whom the PM addressed in their annual conference in New Delhi. Obviously, the rise of militant outfits like the Naxals, separatists and secessionists, subversives and communalists has brought a heavy responsibility on police, security and intelligence agencies of the country that are at the forefront of fighting these evils and protecting democratic culture of our polity.
Prime Ministers apprehensions have emanated from various ugly happenings that took place during the current year in the country. There has been increase in border clashes with serious ramifications. There were Naxals and jihadi attacks in Chhatisgarh, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Patna and other places. There were communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining parts of Western Uttar Pradesh, leaving many dead and displaced. Moreover, the intelligence gathered by relevant agencies, particularly by Multi Agency Centre, speaks of unabated attempts by terrorist outfits of disrupting the impending parliamentary and state assembly elections which speaks of some big conspiracy hatched against the entire nation. In the past we have seen how terrorists tried to attack the Parliament in New Delhi and the Legislative Assembly in Srinagar. External subversives arrested and interrogated by our security agencies have revealed that our enemies are unrelenting in fuelling subversion within the country through the instrumentality of their agents and conduits. Apart from blasting bombs or using lethal weapons, the miscreants have adopted the tactics of whipping up communal passions among the people by spreading falsehoods and canards in the hope of creating mass disturbances. How unfortunate communal clashes should have surfaced at a few places.
The burden of heavy responsibilities of ensuring security of life and property and of the state falls on the shoulders of the police, paramilitary, intelligence gathering and other connected forces. Praising the police ad security services for their sacrifices and commendable contribution to the integrity of the State, the Prime Minister extolled their deft handling of precarious and sensitive situations that have had the potential of running out of control at times. Our experience has shown that the most difficult part of the job for the police is not that of effectively combating the terrorists and subversives but of using such tactics of fighting the terrorists as would cause minimum harm or loss of life to the civilian population. It is hard because the terrorists have been generally trying to blast bombs in crowded market places so that a large number of people get killed or injured. Police cadres had to be given special training in mob controlling mechanisms and meeting the challenge of the terrorist with minimum loss to civilian lives. The Prime Minister highlighted an important aspect of the functioning of the police. He said that incidents of communal clashes had to be dealt with firmly and without fear and favour because the country cannot afford communal clashes that lead to a divide in the civil society
But while we are charging the police and security agencies with the responsibility of meeting the threat of various militant outfits, we should not forget that many brave policemen and officers have laid down their lives while defending the country. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten by a thankful nation. But for their sacrifices and the valuable input made by intelligence agencies from time to time, the terrorists would have struck at their will and caused great damage to life and property. It is owing to the timely information from these agencies that has saved many situations. While talking about the role of media, the Prime Minister clarified that freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution of the country cannot and will not be curbed. It was so because tolerance of the views of opponents is the first principle of democratic dispensation. But he advised that social media should desist from blowing things out of proportion and making insignificant local happenings as a pretext of developing fantastic stories that are unhealthy and disruptive in nature particularly when pertaining to communal issues. Irresponsible social media will have to be checked for larger interests of the nation. Such media is not serving the interests of the people in general but of only the vested interests. The police have rendered meritorious service in situations of natural calamity like the one that happened in Uttrakhand.
The Prime Minister referred to the issue of security to women, a matter that has vigorously surfaced after the rape incident of a young girl in running Delhi bus in December last. The PM is very right in saying that although at the level of the Government, new and stringent legislation had been brought that promises severe punishment for crimes of rape, molestation and other violence against women, yet the scare and fright has not left our womenfolk. The police had very special duty of restoring confidence among the women folk of the country that they are fully protected and safe wherever they are at work place or the market or their homes. He admitted that the police agency needed to bring in institutional mechanisms to improve the phenomenon of security to the women and children against crime.
Another threat that has recently been detected is of cyber attacks. Since computerization is the new way of administrative mechanism, there are serious apprehensions that highly sensitive and confidential information could be hijacked or stolen by cyber theft. The Prime Minister said that with advanced cyber technology at their disposal, Indian scientists and technocrats could devise new methods that would ensure thwarting of cyber intrusion.
The sum and substance of Prime Ministers address to the police top brass shows that it remains the most crucial state instrument of controlling and curbing threats of internal subversion. Fighting the proxy war whether in Kashmir or in the Eastern parts of the country or fighting the Naxal challenges is a stupendous task in which coordination of various security agencies is required. The Government has full information and control on all agencies and a live administration will not allow terrorists to have their way. Sponsors of terrorism in or out of the country should know well that today our security paraphernalia is much more equipped and advanced and upgraded that it was twenty years ago.
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