Safeguarding India at home

The growing threat of radicalisation with the lure of terror groups like Islamic State (ISIS) for thousands of youth has been one of the biggest internal security concerns for the home ministry. To deal with this threat, a change of strategy was introduced with the focus being on counter-radicalisation and a more proactive cyber monitoring mechanism.

Bringing militants into the mainstream

The home ministry's counter-radicalisation approach which started two years back is yielding positive results. Counter terror agencies say that they are now being told to wait and watch suspects with arrests only being made after they cross a certain threshold. Officials also say that in many cases, after being intercepted, the suspects have not been taken into custody. Instead, with the help of family members and local community leaders, many have been "de-radicalised" and brought back into the mainstream.

The government clearly views its de-radicalisation strategy as a success. Presenting a report card in June over what his ministry had achieved over the last three years, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the fact that terror groups like ISIS had failed to establish themselves in India - despite the country's large Muslim population - was a sign the government's policies were working.

Dealing with security challenges

But while that may be so the government cannot afford to rest on its laurels. Figures show that till now over 90 ISIS aspirants have been arrested from across the country with Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu being the hotbed of activity for attracting young Muslims to jihad.

Experts say that to deal with such security challenges, the sharing of intelligence needs to be improved and cyber security must play a larger role in combating terrorism. "There is an urgent need to have a robust mechanism of sharing intelligence in real time between Centre and state, various intelligence agencies and even private organisations that can help," said a senior home ministry official.

On the issue of cyber security, former Home Secretary GK Pillai said old fashioned techniques of gathering intelligence were obsolete and technology had to play a larger role. "There are people who want to still do the things the old way but today the use of technology in intelligence gathering is a must. There has to be a change in the governance pattern to attract youngsters with technical knowhow to assist them in fighting terror threats."

Normalising the situation in J&K

Despite condemnation from certain sections over the government allowing the Army and security forces to use excessive force to curb stone pelters in the Valley last year, the ministry claims that the situation has vastly improved today thanks to its policies.

According to data from the home ministry, 583 cases have been registered this year against 2,897 cases last year. The data also states that the 2,808 incidents of stone pelting that rocked the Valley last year have come down to 664 in 2017.

Asked to explain the reason for the drop in figures, ministry officials say it is thanks to more effective anti-terror operations this year. Ministry data shows that over 135 terrorists have so far been killed this year, as compared to last year's tally of 150, and it is expected that this year's tally will overtake 2016 by the year end.

Officials believe that this "firm hand" against militancy has led to the drop in terror attacks this year. On July 9, 2017 the ministry informed Parliament that there were 172 recorded incidents of "violence by militants" in the state this year as compared to 322 in 2016. They concluded that by end 2017, the number of terror attacks would be far less than 2016.

Fighting the Maoist threat

Apart from J&K, one of the biggest internal security challenges for the country has been the Maoist insurgency. Though it has shown signs of a decline in recent times, the Maoist threat is far from over. The challenges have certainly taken a toll on security personnel who are taking on rebels indulging in guerrilla warfare. Using their knowledge of the local terrain, guerrillas have planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ambushed security forces which has often resulted in mass killings.

The good news is that in the last three years between July 2014 and June 2017 there has been a 22 percent dip in Maoist violence. The government says that the news is all the more welcome considering that the preceding three year period, during the UPA regime, between 2011 and 2014 saw an increase of 78 percent in Maoist attacks.

Ministry officials claim the fall in the Maoist attacks is thanks to the dual policy it is following – first of development in the interior areas controlled by Maoists, and second, going after the top leadership. This policy with its focus on road projects, installation of mobile towers for better communication and more recruitment of locals in the Forces has shown some positive signs.

However, challenges remain. Ministry officials admit that the government's bid to expedite road projects in highly troubled areas has not been that encouraging. For instance, the under construction road where 25 CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, has still not been completed for the last three years. The failure to complete the road has continued to risk the lives of the Forces there.

On the positive side, the government points to the fact that more and more Maoists are being persuaded to give up the gun. Last year, a record breaking 1,442 surrenders by the red rebels was cited as a high point of success for security forces, the various state governments and the Centre.

However, critics have raised questions about the extremely high number of surrenders with some terming them as "fake" or staged. The fact that intelligence agencies too in the past have claimed that "fake surrenders" have been taking place, does take some of the shine away from the government's claims of success in combating the Maoist threat.

Modernising the Forces

Ensuring internal security and safeguarding the border areas cannot be done without modernising and keeping up the Forces' morale. In this regard, the ministry is facing some challenges. Shortage of arms and ammunition, lack of promotional opportunities, inadequate medical facilities, and allegations of corruption against senior officers by their juniors, are huge challenges for the ministry to overcome.

While the ministry has to deal with these challenges quickly, the Forces also need to keep pace with changing technologies, not only to be more effective but also safeguard themselves against new techniques being adopted by the enemy.

The Maoists for example have intensified the use of IEDs and have been using new technologies for this. IEDs have accounted for a high number of CRPF deaths in the red zone. Naturally, the Central Reserve Police Force - the main Force that deals with Maoists - wants to upgrade their equipment to deal with this threat, and have written to the ministry about this.

Such challenges ensure that the home ministry, despite a string of successes, has much work to do to ensure the country's internal security. It remains to be seen just how they go about doing this.

WHAT OUR FORCES DO

• Central Armed Police Forces
  Assist state police organisations in special circumstances like communal riots, insurgency and border skirmishes
   
• Border Security Force & Indo Tibetan Border Police
  Guard the Pakistan, Bangladesh and China borders
   
• Central Reserve Police Force
  They are main force combating Maoists
   
• Central Industrial Security Force
  Guards airports and provides security to industries
   
• Sashastra Seema Bal
  Guards the Indo-Nepal border