By Joginder Singh
In a unique effort of its kind, the first European “terrorism survival course” for the common man has been planned in the UK. It’s a day-long course, which is not free. It will cost each participant £ 150, which is roughly equal to Rs 12,000. The course includes suicide-bombing scenarios, 9/11-style hijacking of aircraft and attacks with improvised explosive devices. The British no longer view terrorism as other people’s problem. One recalls that a few years ago, when then British Prime Minister Tony Blair came to India, he made it clear that Jammu & Kashmir was not a priority in the US-led war against global terrorism, of which the UK is a part. The terror attacks in London and Glasgow have demonstrated that terrorists will not spare the British.
A report by the US Department of State has revealed that terrorist acts have increased by over 25 percent and fatalities have increased by 40 percent this year. Some 74,543 civilians were targeted and 20,498 killed in 2006. If there is one country that needs a training programme to involve the man in the street in the fight against terrorism, it is India. In this country, the Government and citizens must fight the battle against terrorism jointly.
According to the Government, two prominent Pakistan-based terrorist organisations — Lashkar-eTayyeba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), have been responsible for several major attacks in major Indian cities. On July 11, 2006 terrorists set off seven blasts on packed commuter trains in Mumbai, killing at least 209 people and injuring more than 700. On March 7, 2006 terrorists bombed Varanasi, killing 21 and injuring 62 people. On September 9, 2006 terrorists set off a series of blasts outside a mosque in Malegaon, killing 38 people and injuring more than 50.
On October 27, 2006 Karnataka Police arrested two suspected terrorists in Mysore, who allegedly belonged to the terrorist group AI-Badr. Police believed the suspects were employed as an advance team to establish a base in southern India from where they would facilitate terrorist attacks on ‘high-value’ targets, especially in nearby Bangalore, a high-tech hub.
Maoists, meanwhile, launched several attacks, expanding the profile of insurgency and expanding the rural territory under their control. On July 17, 2006, 35 people were killed, 80 injured, and approximately 250 people were missing following an attack by some 800 armed Naxalites in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
The United Liberation front of Asom conducted multiple terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces in Assam, causing numerous deaths and injuries. In one of the more violent series of attacks attributed to ULFA, on November 5, 2006, several bombs exploded in a crowded market and at an oil refinery in Guwahati, killing 12 people and injuring a few dozen.
Our efforts are hampered by the outdated and overburdened law enforcement and legal systems. In fact, there is no law to combat terrorism and the Indian Penal Code, Indian Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act passed in 1863 are still the laws ruling the roost. Democracies in the West, on whose pattern our governance and legal system are based, have jettisoned their old systems and have brought in new framework to deal with the changed circumstances and changed tactics of criminals.
This state of affairs highlights the need to involve ordinary citizens in the fight against terrorism and to change the laws. The only involvement of the Government in educating the citizens in the fight against terrorism so far has been the advertisements of certain dos and don’ts in English language newspapers by the police. But there is no specific attempt to train or educate citizens about their role in the fight against terrorism.
While terrorists carry unlicensed sophisticated weapons, it is nigh impossible for average citizens to get a license from the Government for possessing a non-prohibited bore weapon. A suitable training programme could be devised wherein all gun licensees are asked to participate in a training programme. A special obligation could be laid on them to come to the help of fellow citizens in need whenever terrorists strike. Apart from the licensees, interested citizens could be invited to join this training programme where right to private defence could be a subject.
The law in India recognises the right of a citizen to private defence. While defending one’s life even causing death can be justifiable in some circumstances. Causing the death of a terrorist, who is out to get you, is fully justified. Other topics to be discussed in the workshop could include how citizens can help collect information on suspicious persons who might be trying to mix with the local population and whose mode of dressing, conversation and conduct may appear out of ordinary. Terrorists always use quicker means of transport and communication and stay in rented houses under false names.
Participants would also have to be sensitised to use of computers and mobile phones in terrorist activities. They have to be briefed on the necessary steps to take in case of a terrorist attack - like preserving the scene of crime till forensic experts arrive, cordoning the area, summoning medical aid and ambulances to transport the critically injured to the nearest medical centre. Familiarisation with the latest tactics of the terrorists of moving away from hurling grenades and indiscriminating firing to using mobile phones to trigger IEDs could also be a part of the course for the common man.
Mobile phones were used on May 18, 2007, to trigger the blasts in Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad, which led to the killing of 14 people and injuries to over 50. Also, two bombs connected to cell phones, kept in lunch boxes, were recovered. A similar modus operandi was adopted for the bombings on August 25, 2007 in Hyderabad’s Lumbini Park and Gokul Chaat Bhandar.
Involving concerned citizens in the fight against terrorism is going to help the country. Some trained citizens could also be appointed as special police officers to help the law enforcement agencies. A provision to this effect does exist in our laws.
The British course is being organised by a private organisation. It is time we encouraged voluntary organisations to come forward with such programmes to make citizens conscious and responsive to the problem of terrorism and supplement Government’s efforts. —(Courtesy Asia Defence News International)
The Writer is a former Director of the CBI.
The Sangai Express
In a unique effort of its kind, the first European “terrorism survival course” for the common man has been planned in the UK. It’s a day-long course, which is not free. It will cost each participant £ 150, which is roughly equal to Rs 12,000. The course includes suicide-bombing scenarios, 9/11-style hijacking of aircraft and attacks with improvised explosive devices. The British no longer view terrorism as other people’s problem. One recalls that a few years ago, when then British Prime Minister Tony Blair came to India, he made it clear that Jammu & Kashmir was not a priority in the US-led war against global terrorism, of which the UK is a part. The terror attacks in London and Glasgow have demonstrated that terrorists will not spare the British.
A report by the US Department of State has revealed that terrorist acts have increased by over 25 percent and fatalities have increased by 40 percent this year. Some 74,543 civilians were targeted and 20,498 killed in 2006. If there is one country that needs a training programme to involve the man in the street in the fight against terrorism, it is India. In this country, the Government and citizens must fight the battle against terrorism jointly.
According to the Government, two prominent Pakistan-based terrorist organisations — Lashkar-eTayyeba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), have been responsible for several major attacks in major Indian cities. On July 11, 2006 terrorists set off seven blasts on packed commuter trains in Mumbai, killing at least 209 people and injuring more than 700. On March 7, 2006 terrorists bombed Varanasi, killing 21 and injuring 62 people. On September 9, 2006 terrorists set off a series of blasts outside a mosque in Malegaon, killing 38 people and injuring more than 50.
On October 27, 2006 Karnataka Police arrested two suspected terrorists in Mysore, who allegedly belonged to the terrorist group AI-Badr. Police believed the suspects were employed as an advance team to establish a base in southern India from where they would facilitate terrorist attacks on ‘high-value’ targets, especially in nearby Bangalore, a high-tech hub.
Maoists, meanwhile, launched several attacks, expanding the profile of insurgency and expanding the rural territory under their control. On July 17, 2006, 35 people were killed, 80 injured, and approximately 250 people were missing following an attack by some 800 armed Naxalites in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
The United Liberation front of Asom conducted multiple terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces in Assam, causing numerous deaths and injuries. In one of the more violent series of attacks attributed to ULFA, on November 5, 2006, several bombs exploded in a crowded market and at an oil refinery in Guwahati, killing 12 people and injuring a few dozen.
Our efforts are hampered by the outdated and overburdened law enforcement and legal systems. In fact, there is no law to combat terrorism and the Indian Penal Code, Indian Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act passed in 1863 are still the laws ruling the roost. Democracies in the West, on whose pattern our governance and legal system are based, have jettisoned their old systems and have brought in new framework to deal with the changed circumstances and changed tactics of criminals.
This state of affairs highlights the need to involve ordinary citizens in the fight against terrorism and to change the laws. The only involvement of the Government in educating the citizens in the fight against terrorism so far has been the advertisements of certain dos and don’ts in English language newspapers by the police. But there is no specific attempt to train or educate citizens about their role in the fight against terrorism.
While terrorists carry unlicensed sophisticated weapons, it is nigh impossible for average citizens to get a license from the Government for possessing a non-prohibited bore weapon. A suitable training programme could be devised wherein all gun licensees are asked to participate in a training programme. A special obligation could be laid on them to come to the help of fellow citizens in need whenever terrorists strike. Apart from the licensees, interested citizens could be invited to join this training programme where right to private defence could be a subject.
The law in India recognises the right of a citizen to private defence. While defending one’s life even causing death can be justifiable in some circumstances. Causing the death of a terrorist, who is out to get you, is fully justified. Other topics to be discussed in the workshop could include how citizens can help collect information on suspicious persons who might be trying to mix with the local population and whose mode of dressing, conversation and conduct may appear out of ordinary. Terrorists always use quicker means of transport and communication and stay in rented houses under false names.
Participants would also have to be sensitised to use of computers and mobile phones in terrorist activities. They have to be briefed on the necessary steps to take in case of a terrorist attack - like preserving the scene of crime till forensic experts arrive, cordoning the area, summoning medical aid and ambulances to transport the critically injured to the nearest medical centre. Familiarisation with the latest tactics of the terrorists of moving away from hurling grenades and indiscriminating firing to using mobile phones to trigger IEDs could also be a part of the course for the common man.
Mobile phones were used on May 18, 2007, to trigger the blasts in Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad, which led to the killing of 14 people and injuries to over 50. Also, two bombs connected to cell phones, kept in lunch boxes, were recovered. A similar modus operandi was adopted for the bombings on August 25, 2007 in Hyderabad’s Lumbini Park and Gokul Chaat Bhandar.
Involving concerned citizens in the fight against terrorism is going to help the country. Some trained citizens could also be appointed as special police officers to help the law enforcement agencies. A provision to this effect does exist in our laws.
The British course is being organised by a private organisation. It is time we encouraged voluntary organisations to come forward with such programmes to make citizens conscious and responsive to the problem of terrorism and supplement Government’s efforts. —(Courtesy Asia Defence News International)
The Writer is a former Director of the CBI.
The Sangai Express
No comments:
Post a Comment