By : Ravinder Singh : India has been facing the menace of terrorism for more than two decades. Mumbai terror attack on Nov. 26 last year tested our patience. The challenge that we face today is from terrorist organizations that are not only equipped with the latest technologies and have immense access to funds, but are having active backing of various external agencies. The focus of terrorists has also changed. Their targets are spatially spreading beyond the Kashmir valley to the hinterland with the dual purpose of disturbing the communal harmony and destabilizing the economic prosperity of our country. It is important that we are totally committed to a comprehensive approach in tackling terrorism and put in sustained intensive efforts to end this menace. A number of measures have been taken post 26/11 to deal with various facets of terrorism.
Intelligence Gathering Mechanism In States Strengthened
The issue of augmentation of the strength of Intelligence Bureau (IB) in respect of intelligence gathering and sharing continues to be raised with reference to the activities of the terrorists groups in different parts of the country. In order to strengthen the intelligence gathering and sharing machinery, strength of IB has been augmented. Further, the Multi-Agency Centre in the Intelligence Bureau has been strengthened and re-organized to enable it to function on 24X7 basis. An executive order was issued on 31.12.2008 under which Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) has been obliged to share intelligence with all other agencies, including agencies of the State Governments and Union Territories. Likewise, all other agencies have been obliged to share intelligence with MAC. Further, action is underway for establishing online, dedicated and secure connectivity between all the designated Members of MAC, between MAC and the Subsidiary Multi-Agency Centres (SMACs) in 30 important identified locations spread over all the states in the country and between the SMACs and the State Special Branches. A scheme for providing technical and financial support by the Intelligence Bureau to States for strengthening of State Special Branches, was finalized and approved recently.
Four NSG Hubs Established
The Government has established four NSG hubs (each with operational strength of around 250 personnel) at Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. The Government has also decided to set up two regional centres of NSG at Hyderabad and Kolkata, to enable quick response to terrorist attacks which may occur in different parts of the country. Further, notifications were issued in January, 2009 empowering designated officers of the Central Government and DG, NSG to requisition aircraft from registered operators in the interest of public safety.
A Plan Scheme for setting up twenty temporary Counter-Insurgency and Anti-Terrorism Schools during the 11th Plan period is being implemented from 2008-09. Four such schools each will be set up in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa so as to provide training to police personnel of these States with a view to tackling the menace of Naxalism.
Comprehensive Review Of Coastal Security
Following the 26/11 incidents, coastal security of the country has been reviewed comprehensively at various levels. Under the ongoing Coastal Security Scheme, 64 out of 73 coastal police stations have been operationalised. Coastal states/UTs have also been provided 47 interceptor boats so far. This will increase to 126 by March 2010. Coast Guard , in consultation with States/UTs have also been carried out vulnerability/gap analysis to assess the additional requirements in respect of police stations, check posts, out posts, vehicles, boats etc. Based on this assessment, a comprehensive proposal, to be named as Phase-II of the Coastal Security Scheme, is being formulated for approval of the competent authority. Various other measures to strengthen Coastal Security viz. establishment of vessel tracking and monitoring systems, issue of identity cards to fishermen, and intensified patrolling on the seas are under consideration/implementation by the other Ministries concerned in close coordination with MHA.
CPMFs Augmented
With a view to augmenting the CPMFs, 79 Bns have been sanctioned since 2004-05. A further proposal for raising of 38 additional Bns in the CRPF, including two Mahila Bns, has been approved by the CCS. Out of these 38 Bns, 3 Bns including one Mahila Bn are to be raised in 2009-10. In addition, the ceiling with regard to the strength of CISF has been enhanced to 1,45,000 from 93,521 in 2005, and about 1,20,000 posts have been sanctioned upto September, 2009.
NIA Constituted
The National Investigation Agency has been constituted following enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act. The agency is mandated to investigate and prosecute offences under the Acts mentioned in the Schedule, including offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, that have inter-state and international linkages, which are assigned to it by the Government and would function under the superintendence of the Central Government. Four cases have so far been assigned to the Agency for investigation and prosecution. NIA Hqrs in Delhi has been notified as ‘Police Station’.
UAPA Notified
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was amended and notified on 31.12.2008, to reinforce the legal and punitive provisions of law to combat terrorism with greater focus and for strengthening of provisions relating to financing of terrorism, bail, power to call for information, etc. Rules prescribing the period for recommendations and sanction of prosecution under the Act have also been notified.
Police Reforms Initiated
Various Committees/Commissions have made a number of important recommendations regarding police reforms. The Ministry of Home Affairs set up an expert Committee to draft a new Model Police Act in September, 2005. The Committee submitted a Model Police Act on 30th October, 2006. The Model Police Act provides for well defined duties and responsiveness and sensitivity of the Police towards public and accountability to rule of law. A copy of the draft Model Police Act as framed by the Committee was sent to the States for consideration and appropriate action. Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamilnadu, Tripura and Uttarakhand have either framed New Police Acts or amended the existing Acts. The remaining States are in the process of framing their Police Acts.
The Prime Minister announced the intent of the Government to set up a Police Mission in his address to the DGsP/IGsP Conference in October, 2005. A two-tier system consisting of an Empowered Steering Group chaired by the Home Minister, and under this Group, an Executive Committee (EC) chaired by the Special Secretary (IS)/Home Secretary has been set up. National Police Mission (NPM) shall not be a substitute for the various Committees/Commissions set up on police reforms, but would equip the police to think creatively and help it transform itself from a reactive to a proactive organization.
Six Micro Missions namely Human Resource Development, Community Policing, Communication and Technology, Infrastructure, New Processes and Proactive Policing & Visualizing future Challenges have been set up.
Out of the eleven projects of six Micro Missions, the projects approved for implementation inter-alia include the following.
· Community Counselling Centres – The highlights of this project is to facilitate an integrated approach towards resolution of conflicts affecting women, children and other vulnerable sections of the society in partnership with other resource persons, voluntary organizations and the corporate sector.
· Transparent Recruitment Process –Minimum human intervention and extensive use of technology in order to have transparency in police recruitment are the highlights of this project. The project report was circulated to Directors General of Police/Inspectors General of Police of all States/UTs in September, 2009 for implementation. The Union Home Minister has also written to Chief Ministers of States to consider adopting this recruitment process.
Incidents Of Violence In J&K Go Down
The number of incidents of violence in J&K has gone down considerably. Up to October in 2009, 436 incidents were reported as compared to 575 during the corresponding period in 2008. Likewise, the number of casualties of security personnel and civilians in these incidents has also gone down. In 2009 (till October), 52 security personnel and 71 civilians were killed as against 69 security personnel and 86 civilians in the corresponding period last year. A large number of infiltration attempts by terrorists from across the border were foiled by security forces. 212 terrorists were killed in 2009 up to October.
Some Other Steps
Two conferences of Chief Ministers were held on January 6,2009 and August 17, 2009 to discuss threats to internal security and ways to meet them effectively. At both these conferences, among other things, the Centre impressed upon the States the need to fill up vacancies at various levels in the police. Considerable progress has since been made in this direction.
Due to close coordination between the intelligence agencies of the Centre and State security and intelligence agencies, a number of sleeper cells have been broken up, key LeT operatives arrested, terrorist incidents averted and a large number of cases resolved. It is expected that with the new measures in place, the nefarious designs of subversive elements would be effectively put to check.