02 February 2020

Newsscroll | Source: IANS

De-radicalisation is the new call of security (Column: Spy''s Eye)

De-radicalisation is the new call of security (Column: Spy''s Eye)

Faith-based radicalisation as distinct from ideological or ethnicity-based motivation behind militancy, is at the root of the new global terror of our times that has unfortunately got linked with the so-called ''Islamic world''. In the Indian context, this threat had overtaken the challenge the state faced in the Naxalite belt or the North East. Invoking the war cry of Jehad -- a mandate of Quran to the faithful to fight for the defence of Islam and the Ummah in danger, till the last breath -- has been used in a facile way by many Ulema and the leaders of the community who were striving to retain their political power.

Socio-political and economic grievances have been turned into a cause for Jehad -- a ''win win situation'' painted by its protagonists coming in handy for them to recruit the young for this ''war cry'' in Kashmir and elsewhere. In any insurgency or militant movement, youth -- for reasons of their vulnerability to indoctrination and loyalty to their leaders -- tend to be on the forefront with a degree of daring that often made the task of bringing them back to the path of normalcy difficult.

In the Valley many of them got into a role of collaboration with the Pak terrorists infiltrated from across the LoC making counter-terror operations more arduous. Radicalisation of youth, that led them to a blind acceptance of Jehad, is a known project of Pak ISI and its proxies in India engaged in an ongoing ''proxy war'' against this country. What should cause concern is their determined bid to exploit the ''Minority issues'' here. The environ created by the anti-CAA stir, with its no-holds-barred communal propaganda, must be receiving the closest attention of our national security set-up.

Radicalisation is now a serious long-range threat to India''s security because Pakistan is unabashed about giving safe haven on its soil to terror outfits having linkages across the spectrum of Islam and is determined to use all clandestine channels available to it, in Kashmir and elsewhere, to radicalise local youth including teenagers. Pakistan wants the sleeper cells of terror recruits to support the covert offensive of the Mujahideen infiltrated from across the LoC in the Valley or sent in clandestinely to other parts of the country. De-radicalisation of misguided youth has, therefore, emerged as a prime strategy for India''s counter- terror effort.

Our security forces, led by the army, have to continue eliminating terrorists in Intelligence-based operations. However, apart from the hardened local militants, who accompanied the foreign Mujahideen and ran the risk of getting targeted in such operations, there could be some youth in varying stage of radicalisation falling into the hands of the army personnel. It should be feasible for the civil administration to take them on for a non- coercive programme of ''corrective education'' -- using the outreach to the families wherever possible -- for getting them back on the constructive path. It may be mentioned that the army has evolved the practice of running health camps and other outreach programmes to build an image of friendliness towards law abiding citizens in the affected areas of Kashmir. This should strengthen the above endeavour of the government.

De-radicalisation initiatives are, however, greatly dependent on the capacity of the entire administration, including the police, to act as the eyes and ears of the state to detect youth who were vulnerable to radicalisation attempts of the adversary. Many of the identified stone pelters of Kashmir would need this approach of a corrective response. As part of a de-radicalisation educational programme, there may be incentives from the government for mainstreaming the youngsters by way of exploring the means of fixing them in jobs, facilitating their entry into a higher study programme or rendering a much needed financial help to their family.

Any programme of reeducating the ''radicalised'' elements through interactions would call for the right content that highlights the value system of a democratic society, importance of religion as a source of social unity and advancement of peace, opposition to political misuse of freedom of religion and so on. Competent communicators should be able to bring out how all religions believe in one God though they may call Him by their own names, explain that religion is a matter of individual faith and point out that it was an important contributor of good social conduct involving respect for another person''s faith. Importance of showing reverence for symbols of the nation, considering national identity as the source of unity of all citizens and appreciating the greatness of democracy based on ''one man one vote'' that worked for development of all and equal protection of law to all, has to be put across convincingly.

A clear message should be delivered to the youth that any indulgence in public violence under the misguiding influence of someone else can permanently damage the career for the life and that it was never too late to abandon the path of disruption and return to the sensible course of putting forth one''s demands in a peaceful manner. In the context of Kashmir, it should be explained that post-370, the Centre had taken full responsibility for the development and protection of all the people of J&K as one state without discrimination between Valley and the Jammu region, that the state had suffered because of the corruption of the Valley parties who encouraged separatism for their own political gains and that Kashmiris will now see better opportunities of growth throughout India and will also be better protected against Pak-sponsored terror.

At the same time, it is extremely important that the security & intelligence set-up of the centre and the state identify the preachers and the hidden masterminds -- within India and abroad -- furthering the enemy''s agenda and take them on legally and operationally. Equally vital is to scan the social media channels and websites used by the enemy agents to reach out to the targets for trapping them for recruitment in sleeper cells for terror activity. A lot is being done in this direction but data collection and analytics for fixing the originators of the activity need an ongoing consolidation. Our intelligence set-up would, of course, use the tradecraft to gain access to the adversary''s network getting over the ''community'' barriers if any -- infiltration through ''plants'' is successfully achieved by many agencies of the West.

(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau)

--IANS

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Disclaimer: This story has not been edited by Outlook Staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: IANS