As India strives to combat terrorism, Sputnik India spoke with a former chief police officer who revealed the topical issues existing in the country related to it, and how to curb them.
Dr Vikram Singh, former Director-General of Police (DGP) in the state of Uttar Pradesh, told Sputnik India about how widespread the existing terror ecosystem is, and he laid out possible solutions.
Describing the current state of affairs, Singh said that in his opinion terrorist cells develop just as cancer cells do - if they are ignored they will spread. "So, the problem is very deep and requires not just critical surgery but also chemotherapy.”
When asked how the problem should be tackled, Singh said that "there has to be unbiased law enforcement and strong measures at deradicalisation".
He also pointed out that it's crucial to pay attention to how young people are raised. Singh called for increased security measures in educational institutions - especially universities - where young people can be exposed to extremist propaganda.
He also pointed out that it's crucial to pay attention to how young people are raised. Singh called for increased security measures in educational institutions - especially universities - where young people can be exposed to extremist propaganda.
Asked if there was any way curbing existing challenges could be made easier, he said: “I would expect every sector of society and stakeholder - those in charge of education, academicians, parents, the society , law enforcement agencies and political parties - not to encourage such anti-social and anti-patriotic activities at all.”
Stating that there have been special interest groups that have indulged in communalism in the past and supported the cause of terrorist groups, the former chief police officer picked out groups such as “the SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India), IM (Indian Mujahideen) and the PFI (Popular Front of India).”
Singh urged educational institutions to act as protectors of the nation. Extremist propaganda “must be nipped in the bud”, he added.
Emphasising that deradicalisation is essential, Singh concluded by saying that police and intelligence should spearhead efforts to collect actionable intelligence from reliable channels and sources “with appropriate use of technology and human intelligence”.