After Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive&nbsp;term, The Pakistan establishment&nbsp;seems to have changed the policy yet again. There has been a rise in terror activities as well as infiltration&nbsp;bids on the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

Security forces have found that terror outfits are now choosing the age-old traditional&nbsp; infiltration routes to enter the Union Territory.&nbsp;

Indian Army, Border Security Forces and Jammu Kashmir Police have a new challenge at hand. At a time when the snow has started melting on the higher reaches of the Line of Control and International Border, the number of Infiltration bids has increased as well.&nbsp;

But what has changed this time is that terror groups are using the old traditional infiltration routes. The Pir Panjal hills in south Kashmir and Shamsawari hills in north Kashmir, close to the Line of Control have once again been&nbsp;used&nbsp;by the terrorists to infiltrate as they are covered with dense forests and have dozens of natural caves.

"This is an obvious reality, there is no doubt that there (in Pakistan)&nbsp;there are camps, there are factories of terrorism, there are such organisations operating there and their business is running on bloodshed here if they are not able to do so then their money stops. It is a challenge and we have seen it before and the answer to your question is whether they have started new routes which were closed earlier and have been opened again, the answer is "yes", are they trying to activate it, the answer is "yes", the reason is we all know." said R R Swain, DGP, Jammu and Kashmir Police.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Police's&nbsp;DGP RR Swain recently said that 70-80&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;terrorists&nbsp;are&nbsp; active in Jammu and Kashmir and the focus of&nbsp;terrorism has shifted from local to&nbsp;foreign&nbsp; terrorists.&nbsp;

The increasing number of&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;terrorists is a challenge for the security forces as they are trained in Pakistan&nbsp;terror camps before being sent to Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

In recent times, forces&nbsp;have also noticed that these terrorists are carrying out attacks in the Jammu region but most of these&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;terrorists are said to be hiding in the same belt.

''It is a fact now that the Kashmiri youth are not joining the&nbsp;terror ranks. The figure has&nbsp;come down to its lowest in decades. According to the data, the last lowest figure of our youth's involvement in terrorism was in 2013, but this time it is even less than that."&nbsp;said R R Swain.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, security forces continue to increase the deployment of troops for a strong counter-infiltration grid.

After Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term, The Pakistan establishment seems to have changed the policy yet again.

After Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term, The Pakistan establishment seems to have changed the policy yet again. There has been a rise in terror activities as well as infiltration bids on the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces have found that terror outfits are now choosing the age-old traditional infiltration routes to enter the Union Territory. Indian Army, Border Security Forces and Jammu Kashmir Police have a new challenge at hand. At a time when the snow has started melting on the higher reaches of the Line of Control and International Border, the number of Infiltration bids has increased as well. But what has changed this time is that terror groups are using the old traditional infiltration routes. The Pir Panjal hills in south Kashmir and Shamsawari hills in north Kashmir, close to the Line of Control have once again been used by the terrorists to infiltrate as they are covered with dense forests and have dozens of natural caves. "This is an obvious reality, there is no doubt that there (in Pakistan) there are camps, there are factories of terrorism, there are such organisations operating there and their business is running on bloodshed here if they are not able to do so then their money stops. It is a challenge and we have seen it before and the answer to your question is whether they have started new routes which were closed earlier and have been opened again, the answer is "yes", are they trying to activate it, the answer is "yes", the reason is we all know." said R R Swain, DGP, Jammu and Kashmir Police. Jammu and Kashmir Police's DGP RR Swain recently said that 70-80 foreign terrorists are active in Jammu and Kashmir and the focus of terrorism has shifted from local to foreign terrorists. The increasing number of foreign terrorists is a challenge for the security forces as they are trained in Pakistan terror camps before being sent to Jammu and Kashmir. In recent times, forces have also noticed that these terrorists are carrying out attacks in the Jammu region but most of these foreign terrorists are said to be hiding in the same belt. ''It is a fact now that the Kashmiri youth are not joining the terror ranks. The figure has come down to its lowest in decades. According to the data, the last lowest figure of our youth's involvement in terrorism was in 2013, but this time it is even less than that." said R R Swain. Meanwhile, security forces continue to increase the deployment of troops for a strong counter-infiltration grid.

Terrorists using old traditional infiltration routes in J&K; foreign terrorists more than locals after decades

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/15-dead-in-citizenship-amendment-act-protests-in-up-705-arrested-269499">Uttar Pradesh police</a> on Wednesday beefed up security in the temple town of Ayodhya and is keeping a tab on the movement of suspicious vehicles crossing through the city.

According to Circle Officer (CO) Amar Singh, security has been beefed up in the city and the vehicles passing through <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/ayodhya-verdict-heals-wounds-of-all-parties-266140">Ayodhya</a> are being checked.

"Routine checking is done with the same approach. Apart from that, the police is also interrogating suspicious people. Back seats of the vehicles are also being checked," Singh said.

He added, "There is no specific inputs as of now. Checking is being carried out from every point of view."

Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday beefed up security in the temple town of Ayodhya and is keeping a tab on the movement of suspicious vehicles crossing through the city.

Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday beefed up security in the temple town of Ayodhya and is keeping a tab on the movement of suspicious vehicles crossing through the city. According to Circle Officer (CO) Amar Singh, security has been beefed up in the city and the vehicles passing through Ayodhya are being checked. "Routine checking is done with the same approach. Apart from that, the police is also interrogating suspicious people. Back seats of the vehicles are also being checked," Singh said. He added, "There is no specific inputs as of now. Checking is being carried out from every point of view."

Uttar Pradesh Police beef up security in Ayodhya

Union Home Minister<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/matter-was-crystal-clear-from-the-beginning-rajnath-singh-on-rafale-jets-deal-verdict-183966http://www.wionews.com/india-news/matter-was-crystal-clear-from-the-beginning-rajnath-singh-on-rafale-jets-deal-verdict-183966"> Rajnath Singh</a> has said that the internal security situation in the country has vastly improved, particularly in the North-East and the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Conference of Director Generals and Inspector General's of Police here on Thursday, Singh noted with satisfaction the improving security scenario in the North-East, particularly the peaceful <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/nrc-will-be-limited-to-assam-for-now-hansraj-ahir-185187">rollout of NRC in Assam</a> including publication of the final draft NRC list on July 30, 2018.

"<a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/indias-once-great-rivers-are-victims-of-ecological-violence-179472">Security scenario in the North-East </a>region has witnessed steady improvement in recent years. All parameters of violence have improved in 2018 in comparison to the corresponding period of 2017. There is a 17 per cent decline in total incidents and a 38 per cent reduction in the casualties of civilians," said Singh.

He added, "AFSPA was selectively relaxed in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, inviting a positive public response. Besides, to encourage the militants to join the mainstream, GoI has revised the Surrender-Cum-Rehabilitation Policy by enhancing financial benefits to the surrendering militants."

Also read: C<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-court-issues-non-bailable-warrant-against-all-bulandshahr-violence-accused-183716">ourt issues </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-court-issues-non-bailable-warrant-against-all-bulandshahr-violence-accused-183716">non-bailable</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-court-issues-non-bailable-warrant-against-all-bulandshahr-violence-accused-183716"> warrant against all Bulandshahr violence accused</a>

The Union Home Minister further said that India's security concerns have been conveyed to Myanmar even as efforts are on to harness the trade potential with the Eastern neighbour and beyond.

"A number of our militant groups are operating from the territories of neighbouring countries, particularly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-myanmar-friendship-driven-by-quest-for-mutual-peace-progress-prosperity-president-ram-nath-kovind-183403">Myanmar</a>. Our concerns have been highlighted in the bilateral meetings with these countries. In order to plug the gaps on the Indo-Myanmar border, an Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by MHA has formulated a revised protocol for effective implementation of Free Movement Regime."

Singh said violence in the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-24-maoists-insurgents-killed-in-police-encounter-in-odisha-7900"> Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected areas</a> continues to improve since the last eight years.

"We achieved major operational successes in core areas of CPI/Maoist in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Coordination among different State Police Forces and CAPFs, and generation of regular actionable intelligence was among the main factors which led to an almost two-fold increase in the losses suffered by LWEs this year," he said.

"Reflecting on these successes and the upper hand of the government over the Maoists, after a comprehensive review the number of districts covered under SRE scheme was reduced from 126 to 90," he added.

The Union Home Minister said the communal situation has also remained under control this year to date.

Singh said terrorism in the hinterland has also been stamped out.

"Law enforcement agencies, through concerted action coordinated by Intelligence Bureau, have managed to overcome the first tide of propaganda and mobilization by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Consequently, India witnessed very few incidents of IS inspired violence. In concerted counter-terrorism operations, Law enforcement agencies have arrested nearly 125 terrorist suspects as against 117 arrested in 2017," Singh said."

The new phase of Islamic State propaganda emanating from Afghanistan-Pakistan region is also being countered effectively," he added.

The Union Home Minister commended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for clamping down on terror activities.

The Union Home Minister said Pakistan is perpetrating terrorist activities on Indian soil from J&amp;K to Punjab and the hinterland.

Shri Rajnath Singh said the security situation in J&amp;K continues to be vitiated even though the stone pelting incidents have declined.

"Attempts by militants to infiltrate in large numbers, intermittent attacks by militants and efforts at local recruitment continue. Terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK remains in the form of training camps, launching pads and communication control stations. Financing from across for militants and separatists is a cause of concern. The separatists also exploit every possible situation to agitate the people to fan further anti-India sentiments which lead to law and order situation."

The Union Home Minister directed the security establishment to check efforts to revive terrorism in Punjab.

"In Punjab, recent terror incidents and related interdictions indicate concerted efforts on part of Pak-establishment and Sikh extremist elements based in Pakistan to revive terrorism in Punjab with the active support of other Sikh radical/extremist entities based abroad, especially Europe and America. Pakistan-establishment is also seeking to forge an understanding between Sikh extremist groups and Pak-based Islamist outfits as well as Kashmir-centric terrorist groups for targeting Indian interests," he said.

"Pakistan continues to abet terrorism and during the period January 01, 2017 to November 29, 2018, 17 ISI backed espionage modules have been neutralized in the country resulting in the arrest of 25 espionage agents which include 02 Pakistanis. Various sensitive organisations, including the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, ITBP, DRDO, BSF, CRPF, MEA, Airport Authority of India, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Indian Railways, etc. have been targeted by PIOs from across the border through spoofed / crank calls to elicit sensitive information," he said.

He said the Government is simultaneously pursuing diplomatic efforts to stop terror emanating from Pakistan.&nbsp;

"India is a Member of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-Governmental Body, which makes recommendations relating to Combating of Financing of Terrorism, Money Laundering, etc. Efforts on this platform by India have ensured that Pakistan is rightly put on the grey list."

The Union Home Minister meanwhile asked officials to be cautious in their dealings with foreigners.

"National Security has economic underpinning. In this area, two aspects become important. Firstly, the interface of various foreign entities with the political and administrative structure increase manifold. Here, I would like to advise police and administration officials not to bypass prescribed procedure for interaction with officials of foreign missions which requires communication to be routed through Ministry of Home or External Affairs, except in cases where such contact is permitted according to the Protocol Hand Book," he said.

Singh complimented the security establishment for continuously striving to make the country secure and safe.

"It is undeniable that the Police forces give a sense of confidence to people and allay their fears over security. I also acknowledge that the Police Forces are working in the difficult environment. I attribute the credit for India`s success in the area of security to her Intelligence Agencies, State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces," he said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the internal security situation in the country has vastly improved, particularly in the North-East and the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the internal security situation in the country has vastly improved, particularly in the North-East and the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states. Addressing the inaugural session of the Conference of Director Generals and Inspector General's of Police here on Thursday, Singh noted with satisfaction the improving security scenario in the North-East, particularly the peaceful rollout of NRC in Assam including publication of the final draft NRC list on July 30, 2018. "Security scenario in the North-East region has witnessed steady improvement in recent years. All parameters of violence have improved in 2018 in comparison to the corresponding period of 2017. There is a 17 per cent decline in total incidents and a 38 per cent reduction in the casualties of civilians," said Singh. He added, "AFSPA was selectively relaxed in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, inviting a positive public response. Besides, to encourage the militants to join the mainstream, GoI has revised the Surrender-Cum-Rehabilitation Policy by enhancing financial benefits to the surrendering militants." Also read: Court issues non-bailable warrant against all Bulandshahr violence accused The Union Home Minister further said that India's security concerns have been conveyed to Myanmar even as efforts are on to harness the trade potential with the Eastern neighbour and beyond. "A number of our militant groups are operating from the territories of neighbouring countries, particularly Myanmar. Our concerns have been highlighted in the bilateral meetings with these countries. In order to plug the gaps on the Indo-Myanmar border, an Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by MHA has formulated a revised protocol for effective implementation of Free Movement Regime." Singh said violence in the Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected areas continues to improve since the last eight years. "We achieved major operational successes in core areas of CPI/Maoist in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Coordination among different State Police Forces and CAPFs, and generation of regular actionable intelligence was among the main factors which led to an almost two-fold increase in the losses suffered by LWEs this year," he said. "Reflecting on these successes and the upper hand of the government over the Maoists, after a comprehensive review the number of districts covered under SRE scheme was reduced from 126 to 90," he added. The Union Home Minister said the communal situation has also remained under control this year to date. Singh said terrorism in the hinterland has also been stamped out. "Law enforcement agencies, through concerted action coordinated by Intelligence Bureau, have managed to overcome the first tide of propaganda and mobilization by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Consequently, India witnessed very few incidents of IS inspired violence. In concerted counter-terrorism operations, Law enforcement agencies have arrested nearly 125 terrorist suspects as against 117 arrested in 2017," Singh said." The new phase of Islamic State propaganda emanating from Afghanistan-Pakistan region is also being countered effectively," he added. The Union Home Minister commended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for clamping down on terror activities. The Union Home Minister said Pakistan is perpetrating terrorist activities on Indian soil from J&K to Punjab and the hinterland. Shri Rajnath Singh said the security situation in J&K continues to be vitiated even though the stone pelting incidents have declined. "Attempts by militants to infiltrate in large numbers, intermittent attacks by militants and efforts at local recruitment continue. Terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK remains in the form of training camps, launching pads and communication control stations. Financing from across for militants and separatists is a cause of concern. The separatists also exploit every possible situation to agitate the people to fan further anti-India sentiments which lead to law and order situation." The Union Home Minister directed the security establishment to check efforts to revive terrorism in Punjab. "In Punjab, recent terror incidents and related interdictions indicate concerted efforts on part of Pak-establishment and Sikh extremist elements based in Pakistan to revive terrorism in Punjab with the active support of other Sikh radical/extremist entities based abroad, especially Europe and America. Pakistan-establishment is also seeking to forge an understanding between Sikh extremist groups and Pak-based Islamist outfits as well as Kashmir-centric terrorist groups for targeting Indian interests," he said. "Pakistan continues to abet terrorism and during the period January 01, 2017 to November 29, 2018, 17 ISI backed espionage modules have been neutralized in the country resulting in the arrest of 25 espionage agents which include 02 Pakistanis. Various sensitive organisations, including the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, ITBP, DRDO, BSF, CRPF, MEA, Airport Authority of India, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Indian Railways, etc. have been targeted by PIOs from across the border through spoofed / crank calls to elicit sensitive information," he said. He said the Government is simultaneously pursuing diplomatic efforts to stop terror emanating from Pakistan. "India is a Member of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-Governmental Body, which makes recommendations relating to Combating of Financing of Terrorism, Money Laundering, etc. Efforts on this platform by India have ensured that Pakistan is rightly put on the grey list." The Union Home Minister meanwhile asked officials to be cautious in their dealings with foreigners. "National Security has economic underpinning. In this area, two aspects become important. Firstly, the interface of various foreign entities with the political and administrative structure increase manifold. Here, I would like to advise police and administration officials not to bypass prescribed procedure for interaction with officials of foreign missions which requires communication to be routed through Ministry of Home or External Affairs, except in cases where such contact is permitted according to the Protocol Hand Book," he said. Singh complimented the security establishment for continuously striving to make the country secure and safe. "It is undeniable that the Police forces give a sense of confidence to people and allay their fears over security. I also acknowledge that the Police Forces are working in the difficult environment. I attribute the credit for India`s success in the area of security to her Intelligence Agencies, State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces," he said.

Internal security situation has vastly improved: Rajnath Singh

It is a sad commentary on the states’ respect for the highest judiciary of the land that more than 12 years after the apex court gave directions for police reforms, state governments are still dragging their feet in the matter.

What is no less unfortunate is that the Union government has also not shown the commitment that was expected of it in revamping the police.

The Supreme Court had given directions on September 22, 2006. Around the same time, Soli Sorabjee also submitted a draft of a Model Police Act. The ideal follow-up would have been if the government of India enacted a central legislation on the lines of the Model Police Act, incorporating therein salient features of Supreme Court’s directions.

The central government could also have ensured that similar legislation was passed by at least those state governments where the ruling configuration reflected the power structure at the Centre.

However, nothing of the kind was done. As a result, the states, taking advantage of the caveat that the directions would be operative “till the new legislation is enacted by the state governments”, passed their own laws on the subject, legitimising the status quo.

So, today we have a situation where every state — 17 of them so far — has a different Police Act. In retrospect, it would seem that the British imperialists had more vision. They had a single Police Act for the entire country.

Police Acts passed by the states have on paper set up the mandated institutions: The state security commission, police establishment board and complaints authority.

However, a close scrutiny shows that their composition has been diluted, their charter truncated and their powers curtailed. Besides, there is arbitrariness in the appointment of a DGP while police officers on operational assignments are transferred for various administrative reasons before the completion of two years. There is, further, tardiness in the separation of investigative and law and order functions of the police.

The constitutionality of the acts passed by the state governments has been challenged in the Supreme Court. If the acts are declared ultra vires, that would offer another opportunity to the central government to enact the Model Police Act and ensure that mutatis mutandis similar laws are passed by the state governments.

However, looking at the pace and the zeal with which implementation is being monitored, it is difficult to be very optimistic.

The Justice Thomas Committee, which was appointed by the Supreme Court to examine implementation of its directions in various states, in its report in 2010, expressed “dismay over the total indifference” of the state governments on the issue of reforms in police.

Justice JS Verma Committee (2012) also urged “all states to fully comply with all six Supreme Court directives in order to tackle systemic problems in policing, which exist today”.

What is the relevance of police reforms in the present context? It must be understood that the very survival of the democratic structure and the economic progress of the country are at stake.

The legislatures and Parliament have been infiltrated with persons of questionable antecedents. The nexus between the politicians and criminals is undermining the authority of the state. People who should be behind bars are being protected by the police. A system which permits such an aberration is inherently faulty and must be changed.

Mechanisms must be devised which safeguard the police from becoming a tool in the hands of unscrupulous politicians or oblige it to protect criminals.

The economic growth of the country also requires comprehensive improvement in the law and order situation. We have seen the devastation in Haryana during the reservation agitation in February 2016, when property worth about Rs 20,000 crores was destroyed by the agitators. The police abdicated their functions and were reluctant to confront the agitators. No corporate group would make investments in a state where its installations are vulnerable to attacks by hoodlums. A politicised force cannot deal with such situations effectively. What we need is a professional police force.

Police reforms are also essential to deal with the multifarious problems of internal security. Terrorists have spread their tentacles across the country. Kashmir is on the boil. There are multiple insurgencies in the Northeast. The Maoist insurrection continues to be a formidable threat. Besides, there are caste conflicts and communal problems. We need a reformed and rejuvenated police force to deal with these problems.

The weakness of the police creates a situation where Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have to be inducted and, on occasions, even the Army has to be requisitioned. Under normal circumstances, it should be possible for the police to deal with all internal security problems with some assistance from CAPFs, except where a neighbouring power is involved in stoking the flames of an insurgent or secessionist movement within the country.

Thus, looked at from any angle — survival of democracy, maintaining the trajectory of economic progress or tackling the threats to internal security — we must reorganise and restructure the police in such a manner that it is generally able to perform its mandated functions without having to rely on any support from central forces.

Police reforms are not for the glory of the police. They are a sine qua non for a progressive, modern India, for making the country internally strong and enabling it to play a significant role in international relations. 
 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-police-reforms-brushed-aside-2682703">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

It is a sad commentary on the states’ respect for the highest judiciary of the land that more than 12 years after the apex court gave directions for police reforms, state governments are still dragging their feet in the matter.

It is a sad commentary on the states’ respect for the highest judiciary of the land that more than 12 years after the apex court gave directions for police reforms, state governments are still dragging their feet in the matter. What is no less unfortunate is that the Union government has also not shown the commitment that was expected of it in revamping the police. The Supreme Court had given directions on September 22, 2006. Around the same time, Soli Sorabjee also submitted a draft of a Model Police Act. The ideal follow-up would have been if the government of India enacted a central legislation on the lines of the Model Police Act, incorporating therein salient features of Supreme Court’s directions. The central government could also have ensured that similar legislation was passed by at least those state governments where the ruling configuration reflected the power structure at the Centre. However, nothing of the kind was done. As a result, the states, taking advantage of the caveat that the directions would be operative “till the new legislation is enacted by the state governments”, passed their own laws on the subject, legitimising the status quo. So, today we have a situation where every state — 17 of them so far — has a different Police Act. In retrospect, it would seem that the British imperialists had more vision. They had a single Police Act for the entire country. Police Acts passed by the states have on paper set up the mandated institutions: The state security commission, police establishment board and complaints authority. However, a close scrutiny shows that their composition has been diluted, their charter truncated and their powers curtailed. Besides, there is arbitrariness in the appointment of a DGP while police officers on operational assignments are transferred for various administrative reasons before the completion of two years. There is, further, tardiness in the separation of investigative and law and order functions of the police. The constitutionality of the acts passed by the state governments has been challenged in the Supreme Court. If the acts are declared ultra vires, that would offer another opportunity to the central government to enact the Model Police Act and ensure that mutatis mutandis similar laws are passed by the state governments. However, looking at the pace and the zeal with which implementation is being monitored, it is difficult to be very optimistic. The Justice Thomas Committee, which was appointed by the Supreme Court to examine implementation of its directions in various states, in its report in 2010, expressed “dismay over the total indifference” of the state governments on the issue of reforms in police. Justice JS Verma Committee (2012) also urged “all states to fully comply with all six Supreme Court directives in order to tackle systemic problems in policing, which exist today”. What is the relevance of police reforms in the present context? It must be understood that the very survival of the democratic structure and the economic progress of the country are at stake. The legislatures and Parliament have been infiltrated with persons of questionable antecedents. The nexus between the politicians and criminals is undermining the authority of the state. People who should be behind bars are being protected by the police. A system which permits such an aberration is inherently faulty and must be changed. Mechanisms must be devised which safeguard the police from becoming a tool in the hands of unscrupulous politicians or oblige it to protect criminals. The economic growth of the country also requires comprehensive improvement in the law and order situation. We have seen the devastation in Haryana during the reservation agitation in February 2016, when property worth about Rs 20,000 crores was destroyed by the agitators. The police abdicated their functions and were reluctant to confront the agitators. No corporate group would make investments in a state where its installations are vulnerable to attacks by hoodlums. A politicised force cannot deal with such situations effectively. What we need is a professional police force. Police reforms are also essential to deal with the multifarious problems of internal security. Terrorists have spread their tentacles across the country. Kashmir is on the boil. There are multiple insurgencies in the Northeast. The Maoist insurrection continues to be a formidable threat. Besides, there are caste conflicts and communal problems. We need a reformed and rejuvenated police force to deal with these problems. The weakness of the police creates a situation where Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have to be inducted and, on occasions, even the Army has to be requisitioned. Under normal circumstances, it should be possible for the police to deal with all internal security problems with some assistance from CAPFs, except where a neighbouring power is involved in stoking the flames of an insurgent or secessionist movement within the country. Thus, looked at from any angle — survival of democracy, maintaining the trajectory of economic progress or tackling the threats to internal security — we must reorganise and restructure the police in such a manner that it is generally able to perform its mandated functions without having to rely on any support from central forces. Police reforms are not for the glory of the police. They are a sine qua non for a progressive, modern India, for making the country internally strong and enabling it to play a significant role in international relations. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Police reforms essential for making the country internally strong

The problem of terrorism reached a new high in 2016 in India with as many as 250 civilians and 143 security men losing their lives in incidents of terrorism. 412 terrorists were killed by security forces in terror attacks.

As many as 1,683 terror incidents were reported from across the &nbsp;country, WION reports.

While left wing extremism accounted for more than 50 per cent of the terror attacks across the country, the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir &nbsp;(J&amp;K) witnessed an alarming surge in terror strikes this year as compared to 2015.

This year the state witnessed 305 &nbsp;incidents of terror in which 14 civilians, 71 security personnel and 140 terrorists were killed, as per data available till November 27.&nbsp;

17 civilians, 39 security personnel and 46 terrorists were killed in 208 terror attacks across J&amp;K last year.&nbsp;

The federal ministry of home affairs says there&#39;s been a spurt in infiltration attempts into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan. The data available with the ministry till October 2016 is alarming, with the inflitration attempts more than doubling to 276 this year from 2015&#39;s 121.&nbsp;

(WION)

Left wing extremism accounted for more than 50% of the terror attacks across the country

The problem of terrorism reached a new high in 2016 in India with as many as 250 civilians and 143 security men losing their lives in incidents of terrorism. 412 terrorists were killed by security forces in terror attacks. As many as 1,683 terror incidents were reported from across the country, WION reports. While left wing extremism accounted for more than 50 per cent of the terror attacks across the country, the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) witnessed an alarming surge in terror strikes this year as compared to 2015. This year the state witnessed 305 incidents of terror in which 14 civilians, 71 security personnel and 140 terrorists were killed, as per data available till November 27. 17 civilians, 39 security personnel and 46 terrorists were killed in 208 terror attacks across J&K last year. The federal ministry of home affairs says there's been a spurt in infiltration attempts into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan. The data available with the ministry till October 2016 is alarming, with the inflitration attempts more than doubling to 276 this year from 2015's 121. (WION)

Jammu and Kashmir accounted for almost 50% of India's terrorist incidents in 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday kept up India&#39;s efforts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan when he used the forum of the 8th BRICS Summit at Goa to urge the international community to lean on purveyors of terror who justify the use terrorism for political gains.

Without naming Pakistan, he said that the &quot;mother ship&quot; of terrorism &quot;is a country in India&rsquo;s neighbourhood&quot; and that terror modules of the world were linked to that particular country. In the same vein, he called for actions against the &quot;hardware of terrorism&quot;, including, but not limited to, terror financing, supply of weapons and training. 
&nbsp; 
In a double-barrelled attack, Mr Modi also obliquely took a swipe at China which employed the exact phrase (&quot;political gains&quot;) to justify its opposition to a United Nations ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, who New Delhi accuses of having had a hand in a series of terrorist attacks in India, including the September 18 attack at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. On October 10, China&#39;s Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong had said about India that no country should &quot;pursue its own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism&quot;.

Mr Modi continued the fusillade by pointing out that those who nurture, shelter, support or sponsor terrorism are as much a threat to regional and global peace and security as terrorists themselves.

Similar sentiments found a reflection in the Goa Declaration. A relevant extract from the document read: &quot;We strongly condemn the recent several attacks, against some BRICS countries, including that in India[.] There can be no justification whatsoever for any acts of terrorism...&quot;

Mr Modi has been relentless in his pursuit of a proactive policy against Pakistan. He has consistently raised the issue at every multilateral fora. At the G20 Summit at China, he had this to say: &quot;Indeed one single nation in South Asia is spreading these agents of terror in countries of our region[.]

Those who sponsor and support terrorism must be isolated and sanctioned, not rewarded.&quot;

The same narrative was heard at the East Asia Summit at Vietnam, where he spoke about a country &ldquo;whose competitive advantage rests solely in producing and exporting terrorism&rdquo; and that &quot;the time has come for us to stop this global exporter of terror.&quot;

And most recently, India exercised its right of reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s address to the United Nations General Assembly speech by describing Pakistan as the &quot;Ivy league of terrorism&quot;.

However, the jury is out on whether the Goa Declaration adopted by the BRICS member-states did justice to India&#39;s concerns about cross-border terrorism emanating from its immediate neighbourhood. On the face of it, the language of the relevant paragraphs from the Goa Declaration on the subject of terrorism are similar to the boilerplate formulation contained in some previous BRICS documents.

Asked if the outcome document, which was sanitised of specific references to either Pakistan or the terrorism directed against India, had come as a disappointment to New Delhi, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha in the Ministry of External Affairs said, &quot;We are satisfied[.] You don&#39;t have to spell out everything.&quot; Mr Sinha went on to suggest that the Goa Declaration should be read together with the bilateral documents agreed upon by India and the BRICS countries, which highlighted a convergence of ideas.

Although the Goa Declaration mentions the Islamic State terrorist group by name, there were no references to terror groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which could be partly be attributed to China which sees Pakistan as an all-weather ally and a countervail to India. For his part, Mr Sinha sought to explain it away by saying that the JeM &quot;is focussed on India&quot; and therefore &quot;does not concern all of BRICS.&quot; 
 
(WION)

Without naming Pakistan, PM Modi said the 'mother ship' of terrorism 'is a country in India?s neighbourhood'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday kept up India's efforts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan when he used the forum of the 8th BRICS Summit at Goa to urge the international community to lean on purveyors of terror who justify the use terrorism for political gains. Without naming Pakistan, he said that the "mother ship" of terrorism "is a country in India’s neighbourhood" and that terror modules of the world were linked to that particular country. In the same vein, he called for actions against the "hardware of terrorism", including, but not limited to, terror financing, supply of weapons and training. In a double-barrelled attack, Mr Modi also obliquely took a swipe at China which employed the exact phrase ("political gains") to justify its opposition to a United Nations ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, who New Delhi accuses of having had a hand in a series of terrorist attacks in India, including the September 18 attack at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. On October 10, China's Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong had said about India that no country should "pursue its own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism". Mr Modi continued the fusillade by pointing out that those who nurture, shelter, support or sponsor terrorism are as much a threat to regional and global peace and security as terrorists themselves. Similar sentiments found a reflection in the Goa Declaration. A relevant extract from the document read: "We strongly condemn the recent several attacks, against some BRICS countries, including that in India[.] There can be no justification whatsoever for any acts of terrorism..." Mr Modi has been relentless in his pursuit of a proactive policy against Pakistan. He has consistently raised the issue at every multilateral fora. At the G20 Summit at China, he had this to say: "Indeed one single nation in South Asia is spreading these agents of terror in countries of our region[.] Those who sponsor and support terrorism must be isolated and sanctioned, not rewarded." The same narrative was heard at the East Asia Summit at Vietnam, where he spoke about a country “whose competitive advantage rests solely in producing and exporting terrorism” and that "the time has come for us to stop this global exporter of terror." And most recently, India exercised its right of reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address to the United Nations General Assembly speech by describing Pakistan as the "Ivy league of terrorism". However, the jury is out on whether the Goa Declaration adopted by the BRICS member-states did justice to India's concerns about cross-border terrorism emanating from its immediate neighbourhood. On the face of it, the language of the relevant paragraphs from the Goa Declaration on the subject of terrorism are similar to the boilerplate formulation contained in some previous BRICS documents. Asked if the outcome document, which was sanitised of specific references to either Pakistan or the terrorism directed against India, had come as a disappointment to New Delhi, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha in the Ministry of External Affairs said, "We are satisfied[.] You don't have to spell out everything." Mr Sinha went on to suggest that the Goa Declaration should be read together with the bilateral documents agreed upon by India and the BRICS countries, which highlighted a convergence of ideas. Although the Goa Declaration mentions the Islamic State terrorist group by name, there were no references to terror groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which could be partly be attributed to China which sees Pakistan as an all-weather ally and a countervail to India. For his part, Mr Sinha sought to explain it away by saying that the JeM "is focussed on India" and therefore "does not concern all of BRICS." (WION)

At BRICS summit, India calls for action against 'hardware of terrorism'