Showing posts with label mumbai blast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mumbai blast. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Coping with terror attacks
Co operation from the common man is the key word for secure society! Please have faith in the government, administration... If all of us (media, public, law enforcement) were to temper our reaction and response to terrorist events, we would lessen our attractiveness as a terrorist target and reduce the overall impact of the attackThe Media have the responsibility for accurately and objectively reporting a terrorist event, as exaggeration would only serve to increase the terrorist effect. Unknowingly they act like informants to the terror groups or agents for corporates trying to sell gadgets to the forces...
Law enforcement must remain both sensitive and sensible, in other words, not letting their emotions cloud their judgment when investigating terrorism or protecting the public from it. There is no meaning left in cliches like "security beefed up" etc.,
Politicians: Avoid knee jerk reaction: avoid using terrorist attacks as a platform for pushing other agendas or justifying irrational expenditures.They should also refrain from making hasty comments/ statements which might hamper investigations.They should also avoid useless exercises like visiting the victims of terror attacks in the hospital/ visiting the dead, which will not only hamper the medical management but also burdens the local administration and the police – who otherwise should be involved in relief measures/ investigations. (It is a well known fact that, the terrorists target hospitals for secondary attack, as they know that victims of primary attack would be rushed to hospitals along with curious onlookers/ security agencies/ politicians and media!)·
The Public has the responsibility to look at terrorist events in perspective, and has an important role in balancing the response of the media, law enforcement and politicians, by trying to learn as much as they can about terrorist methods of operation, to understand what the real threat is to them, and identify the appropriate measures to stop them. Ignorance of these methods reduces the public's ability to act as a check and balance to the policies and activities of the other sectors who represent and serve them. Public should also minimize use of cellular network at the time of such terror attacks to prevent network jam (remember that by doing so, you may save lot of lives!)·
Counterterrorism in India
India faces more terrorism than anywhere in the world other than Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. What makes it such a popular target?By Eben Kaplan and Jayshree Bajoria, Council on Foreign Relations, Courtesy: Newsweek
Introduction
The deadly terrorist assault on Mumbai's hotel district and a spate of bomb attacks across India's cities this year have claimed hundreds of lives and once again raised questions about India's vulnerability to terrorism. According to the latest report on global terrorism by the U.S. government's National Counter-Terrorism Center, more than 1,000 people died in India because of terrorist attacks in 2007, ranking India fourth behind only Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. India, a nation of a billion people, has been confronted with terrorism since its birth, and currently contends with a variety of regional groups mainly intent on separatism.
Why is India the target of so many terrorist attacks?India is embroiled in a number of low-intensity conflicts throughout its territory. Many terrorist incidents are the products of these clashes.
Why is India the target of so many terrorist attacks?India is embroiled in a number of low-intensity conflicts throughout its territory. Many terrorist incidents are the products of these clashes.
The regions most affected are:
Jammu and Kashmir. Located at the northern tip of India's territory, this state has been the focal point of a territorial dispute dating back to 1947—when British colonial rule ended—involving India, Pakistan and China. India claims the entire region as its sovereign territory, though it controls only about half of it. A third of the land is controlled by Pakistan, and China controls the remainder. The quarrel between India and Pakistan has touched off a number of military showdowns. Since the late 1980s, the region has been home to a number of militant groups seeking independence for the region. Experts say these groups have extensive support networks in Pakistan, and some accuse Pakistan of using these insurgent groups to wage a proxy war in the region. Over the last decade, this conflict has been linked to some two-thirds of all fatalities from terrorist attacks in India.
Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh state along the Bay of Bengal coast has endured a number of attacks linked to a group known as Naxalites. Named for the town of Naxalbari where their movement began in 1967, Naxalites are revolutionary communists. Though not all are militant, Human Rights Watch estimates some 10,000 are members of armed militias, which continue to wage a low-intensity insurgency that claims hundreds of Indian lives every year. In areas under Naxalite control "people's courts" prosecute individuals deemed "class enemies" or "caste oppressors." The U.S. State Department reports Naxalite terrorism "is growing in sophistication and lethality and may pose a significant long-term challenge." Indian officials have reportedly organized vigilante groups to help oppose Naxalite influence, and human rights groups have criticized the government's methods. Over the years, the Naxalite influence has spread to 13 of India's 28 states. The swath passes through the woods and jungles of central India, where the group takes refuge and recruits from the region's impoverished population. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa have witnessed high levels of Naxalite activity, but Chhattisgarh witnessed the most Maoist-related violence in 2006 with more than 360 deaths.
Northeastern states. Violence has plagued several states in northeast India ever since the country now known as Bangladesh was partitioned off in 1947. Fighting has been particularly bad in the states of Assam and Nagaland, which over the years have received a large influx of immigrants. Shifting demographics in an area already prone to tribal friction have helped touch off a number of religious and cultural conflicts. Poverty is endemic in the region, and many groups are demanding independence, citing neglect and discrimination on the part of the Indian government as grounds for separation. Militant groups like the United Liberation Front of Assam have targeted politicians and infrastructure in an attempt to force out government influence.
Jammu and Kashmir. Located at the northern tip of India's territory, this state has been the focal point of a territorial dispute dating back to 1947—when British colonial rule ended—involving India, Pakistan and China. India claims the entire region as its sovereign territory, though it controls only about half of it. A third of the land is controlled by Pakistan, and China controls the remainder. The quarrel between India and Pakistan has touched off a number of military showdowns. Since the late 1980s, the region has been home to a number of militant groups seeking independence for the region. Experts say these groups have extensive support networks in Pakistan, and some accuse Pakistan of using these insurgent groups to wage a proxy war in the region. Over the last decade, this conflict has been linked to some two-thirds of all fatalities from terrorist attacks in India.
Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh state along the Bay of Bengal coast has endured a number of attacks linked to a group known as Naxalites. Named for the town of Naxalbari where their movement began in 1967, Naxalites are revolutionary communists. Though not all are militant, Human Rights Watch estimates some 10,000 are members of armed militias, which continue to wage a low-intensity insurgency that claims hundreds of Indian lives every year. In areas under Naxalite control "people's courts" prosecute individuals deemed "class enemies" or "caste oppressors." The U.S. State Department reports Naxalite terrorism "is growing in sophistication and lethality and may pose a significant long-term challenge." Indian officials have reportedly organized vigilante groups to help oppose Naxalite influence, and human rights groups have criticized the government's methods. Over the years, the Naxalite influence has spread to 13 of India's 28 states. The swath passes through the woods and jungles of central India, where the group takes refuge and recruits from the region's impoverished population. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa have witnessed high levels of Naxalite activity, but Chhattisgarh witnessed the most Maoist-related violence in 2006 with more than 360 deaths.
Northeastern states. Violence has plagued several states in northeast India ever since the country now known as Bangladesh was partitioned off in 1947. Fighting has been particularly bad in the states of Assam and Nagaland, which over the years have received a large influx of immigrants. Shifting demographics in an area already prone to tribal friction have helped touch off a number of religious and cultural conflicts. Poverty is endemic in the region, and many groups are demanding independence, citing neglect and discrimination on the part of the Indian government as grounds for separation. Militant groups like the United Liberation Front of Assam have targeted politicians and infrastructure in an attempt to force out government influence.
What groups are involved in terrorism in India?
There are scores of insurgent and terrorist groups operating in the country. Those recognized by the U.S. State Department as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) or other "groups of concern" are:
Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT), whose name means "Army of the Pure," is a militant Islamist group operating in Pakistan as well as in Jammu and Kashmir. The group reportedly received funding from Pakistan's intelligence services until 2001, when the United States designated it an FTO and Pakistan froze its assets. LeT, which has ideological, but unconfirmed operational ties to Al Qaeda, aims to win sovereignty for Jammu and Kashmir and spread Islamic rule across India. The group is blamed for some of the most high-profile terrorist attacks in India, including the July 11, 2006 bombing of the Mumbai commuter rail.
Jaish-e-Muhammad, meaning "Army of Mohammed," is another Pakistan-based terrorist group operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Founded in 2000 by the former leader of the now-defunct group Harkat-ul-Ansar, Jaish-e-Muhammed seeks to drive India out of Jammu and Kashmir and transfer control of the region to Pakistan.
Harakat ul-Mujahedeen (HuM), or the "Islamic Freedom Fighters' Group," was founded in 1985 as an anti-Soviet group fighting in Afghanistan. When Soviet forces withdrew in 1989, the Pakistan-based HuM shifted its focus to Jammu and Kashmir. HuM seeks to battle "anti-Islamic forces" and its members have helped carry out operations as far away as Myanmar, Tajikistan and Bosnia.
The Communist Party of India was formed by a merger of Naxalite groups in 2004 after talks between the Indian government and the leftist militants broke down. The group seeks to establish a "revolutionary zone" of control extending from the Nepalese border down to the southern part of Andhra Pradesh that would ultimately become a sovereign state.
Harakat ul-Jihad-I-Islami (HUJI) was founded in 1980 to fight Soviets in Afghanistan but has since concentrated its efforts in Jammu and Kashmir. HUJI, which is based in Pakistan and Kashmir, primarily attacks Indian military targets, but it is believed to be linked to the abduction and slaying of five Western tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995.
Jamiat ul-Mujahedin is a small group of pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatists operating in or near Pakistan. It is thought to be responsible for a pair of 2004 grenade attacks against political targets in India.
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has sought to establish an independent socialist state in Assam since its founding in 1979. In the 1990s, ULFA's attacks on political leaders, security forces, and infrastructure provoked a harsh response from the Indian government, causing it to lose some support among the residents of Assam. The U.S. State Department reports a December 2003 attack on a ULFA base by Indian forces caused the group's numbers to drop from more than 3,000 to several hundred.
What agencies are responsible for fighting terrorism in India?
Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT), whose name means "Army of the Pure," is a militant Islamist group operating in Pakistan as well as in Jammu and Kashmir. The group reportedly received funding from Pakistan's intelligence services until 2001, when the United States designated it an FTO and Pakistan froze its assets. LeT, which has ideological, but unconfirmed operational ties to Al Qaeda, aims to win sovereignty for Jammu and Kashmir and spread Islamic rule across India. The group is blamed for some of the most high-profile terrorist attacks in India, including the July 11, 2006 bombing of the Mumbai commuter rail.
Jaish-e-Muhammad, meaning "Army of Mohammed," is another Pakistan-based terrorist group operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Founded in 2000 by the former leader of the now-defunct group Harkat-ul-Ansar, Jaish-e-Muhammed seeks to drive India out of Jammu and Kashmir and transfer control of the region to Pakistan.
Harakat ul-Mujahedeen (HuM), or the "Islamic Freedom Fighters' Group," was founded in 1985 as an anti-Soviet group fighting in Afghanistan. When Soviet forces withdrew in 1989, the Pakistan-based HuM shifted its focus to Jammu and Kashmir. HuM seeks to battle "anti-Islamic forces" and its members have helped carry out operations as far away as Myanmar, Tajikistan and Bosnia.
The Communist Party of India was formed by a merger of Naxalite groups in 2004 after talks between the Indian government and the leftist militants broke down. The group seeks to establish a "revolutionary zone" of control extending from the Nepalese border down to the southern part of Andhra Pradesh that would ultimately become a sovereign state.
Harakat ul-Jihad-I-Islami (HUJI) was founded in 1980 to fight Soviets in Afghanistan but has since concentrated its efforts in Jammu and Kashmir. HUJI, which is based in Pakistan and Kashmir, primarily attacks Indian military targets, but it is believed to be linked to the abduction and slaying of five Western tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995.
Jamiat ul-Mujahedin is a small group of pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatists operating in or near Pakistan. It is thought to be responsible for a pair of 2004 grenade attacks against political targets in India.
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has sought to establish an independent socialist state in Assam since its founding in 1979. In the 1990s, ULFA's attacks on political leaders, security forces, and infrastructure provoked a harsh response from the Indian government, causing it to lose some support among the residents of Assam. The U.S. State Department reports a December 2003 attack on a ULFA base by Indian forces caused the group's numbers to drop from more than 3,000 to several hundred.
What agencies are responsible for fighting terrorism in India?
A number of intelligence, military, and police organizations within the Indian government contribute to counterterrorism efforts. These include state-run police forces, special security forces to guard airports and other high-profile targets, and paramilitary forces that patrol the borders and assist the police when necessary. These paramilitary groups, such as the 165,000-strong Central Reserve Police Force, have been accused of committing human rights violations, especially in Kashmir, where they are particularly active. The army usually participates in counterterrorism operations as a last resort, though in Jammu and Kashmir they play a more consistent role. India's closest structural equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is the Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees national police, paramilitaries, and domestic intelligence gathering.
India has several intelligence agencies that monitor terrorist activities. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is the external intelligence agency and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), a division of the Home Affairs Ministry, collects intelligence inside India. A Joint Intelligence Committee analyzes intelligence data from RAW and IB as well as from a handful of military intelligence agencies, which usually provide tactical information gathered while carrying out counterterrorist operations.
The IB oversees an interagency counterterrorism center similar to the CIA. The Ministry of External Affairs oversees its own counterterrorism body, much like the U.S. State Department, which oversees diplomatic counterterrorism functions such as briefing other nations on suspected Pakistani sponsorship of terrorism in India.
How does the government react to terrorist attacks?
India has several intelligence agencies that monitor terrorist activities. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is the external intelligence agency and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), a division of the Home Affairs Ministry, collects intelligence inside India. A Joint Intelligence Committee analyzes intelligence data from RAW and IB as well as from a handful of military intelligence agencies, which usually provide tactical information gathered while carrying out counterterrorist operations.
The IB oversees an interagency counterterrorism center similar to the CIA. The Ministry of External Affairs oversees its own counterterrorism body, much like the U.S. State Department, which oversees diplomatic counterterrorism functions such as briefing other nations on suspected Pakistani sponsorship of terrorism in India.
How does the government react to terrorist attacks?
Experts say the government's response to terrorist attacks have been episodic; soon after an attack the government appears to take short-term measures. "India lacks a coherent strategic response to terrorism; there is no doctrine, and most of our responses are kneejerk," says retired Major General Sheru Thapliyal, who works at the Center for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi.
Indian security officials usually focus their investigations on the country's Muslim minority following such attacks. India is home to 150 million Muslims, the second largest Muslim population in the world. But a large percentage of them feel disadvantaged and discriminated against by the government and the security forces.
Indian security officials usually focus their investigations on the country's Muslim minority following such attacks. India is home to 150 million Muslims, the second largest Muslim population in the world. But a large percentage of them feel disadvantaged and discriminated against by the government and the security forces.
How have India's counterterrorism agencies performed?
Some Indian journalists called the July 11 Mumbai bombings a failure of the country's intelligence community. Stephen P. Cohen, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, says that within the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of India's counterterrorism apparatus, "there's general agreement that the old institutions can't cope with the new pressures." Wilson John, a senior fellow with the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, writes in the Terrorism Monitor the problem is an intelligence structure which has yet to emerge from its "debilitating colonial legacy and a complementary stranglehold of bureaucracy." John argues the state police and intelligence units are mostly structured as agencies to protect law and order and spy on rivals rather than act as investigative and intelligence units. He says there is reluctance, and even refusal, to share information among the intelligence and security agencies.
Others counter that the intelligence agencies are performing well, but politicians too often shy away from making tough security decisions for fear of angering their constituents. Jeevan Deol, a lecturer in South Asian studies at the University of London, says, "There may well be occasions where elected politicians may not see it in their interest to isolate insurgent groups." He says their actions are nothing "too unusual for an elected democracy."
India's counterterrorism measures have often been the subject of appeals by human rights organizations. Deol says Indian officials have a higher tolerance for collateral damage than counterterrorism authorities in many other nations. In an example of such tactics, he says, "Agencies and arms of the state have been accused of turning a blind eye in order to run rival gangs that would be tasked with killing other insurgents, but would also kill innocent people." Such tactics have been effective in the past, says Cohen, but only when coupled with political accommodation.
Others counter that the intelligence agencies are performing well, but politicians too often shy away from making tough security decisions for fear of angering their constituents. Jeevan Deol, a lecturer in South Asian studies at the University of London, says, "There may well be occasions where elected politicians may not see it in their interest to isolate insurgent groups." He says their actions are nothing "too unusual for an elected democracy."
India's counterterrorism measures have often been the subject of appeals by human rights organizations. Deol says Indian officials have a higher tolerance for collateral damage than counterterrorism authorities in many other nations. In an example of such tactics, he says, "Agencies and arms of the state have been accused of turning a blind eye in order to run rival gangs that would be tasked with killing other insurgents, but would also kill innocent people." Such tactics have been effective in the past, says Cohen, but only when coupled with political accommodation.
Does India have antiterrorism legislation similar to the U.S. Patriot Act?
Not anymore. In 2002 India passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), expanding the government's powers in combating terrorism. Some measures, such as the ability to keep terror suspects in custody without bringing them to trial, met with objections, and the law was repealed in 2004 after allegations that officials were abusing their powers. However, after the recent spate of bombings, some Indian politicians are calling for the law to be restored.
Some Indian states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra have other laws, Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act, that are used to try suspected terrorists. The MCOCA was also extended to Delhi in 2002. Some lawyers have alleged that MCOCA is even more draconian than POTA and has often been misused by the investigative agencies. Other states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are also seeking similar anti-terror laws.
Some Indian states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra have other laws, Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act, that are used to try suspected terrorists. The MCOCA was also extended to Delhi in 2002. Some lawyers have alleged that MCOCA is even more draconian than POTA and has often been misused by the investigative agencies. Other states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are also seeking similar anti-terror laws.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
ಉಗ್ರರ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಹೊಸ ಅಸ್ತ್ರ...ಅಮಾಯಕರ ಹತ್ಯೆ ಆದಾಗ ಅಡಗಿರುವ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕ ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಬುದ್ದಿ ಜೀವಿಗಳು!
ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 10 ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ದಿನ...ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕರನ್ನು ತರಾಟೆಗೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಾದ ದಿನ!
ಕ್ರಿಮಿನಲ್ಗಳು , ಜಿಹಾದಿಗಳು , ಎಡ ಪಂಥೀಯರ ಹೊಸ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವೇ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಸ್ತೈರ್ಯ ಕುಂದಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸ?
ಉಗ್ರರು ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯನನ್ನು ಗುಂಡಿಟ್ಟು ಸಾಯಿಸಿದಾಗ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡ ಪಂಥೀಯ ಉಗ್ರರು ಅಮಾಯಕರನ್ನು ಸಾಯಿಸುವಾಗ "ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು" ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕರು, ಬುದ್ದಿಜೀವಿಗಳು, ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಚಿಂತಕರು ಎಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ? ಉಗ್ರರು ಸತ್ತಾಗ, ಎಡ ಪಂತೀಯರನ್ನು, ಪುಂಡರನ್ನು, ಕಳ್ಳರನ್ನು ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಬಂಧಿಸಿದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಇವರು ಹುಯಿಲೆಬ್ಬಿಸುವುದು ಏಕೆ? ಇವರಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಬಲ ಯಾರದ್ದು?
ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ ಹತ್ತರಂದು ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ದಿನಾಚರಣೆ...ಈ ಸೋಗಲಾಡಿ ಬುದ್ದಿಜೀವಿಗಳನ್ನು ತರಾಟೆಗೆ ಏಕೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬಾರದು?
Human rights activists are silent while innocent lives are lost to the terror attacks, leftist terror groups...December 10th is the Human Rights Day...Common man has to take these self styled "human rights activists" into task...ask them why they raise a hue and cry only when some terrorist is arrested or some leftist extremist is encountered?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
ಆತಂಕವಾದಿಗಳ ತಾಳಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ....
ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಪೋಲಿಸರಿಲ್ಲ, ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಭದ್ರತೆ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಬೊಬ್ಬೆ ಹೊಡೆಯುವ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಮಂದಿ...ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಬಳಿ ಇರುವ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಉಗ್ರರಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಮುಲಕ ತಲುಪಿಸುವ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ...ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ವರದಿಗಾರ ಎಂಬ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ದುರುಪಯೋಗಿಸಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದೊಳಗೆ ಹುಸಿ ಬಾಂಬ್ ಇಡುವ ಮಂದಿ...ಏನೇನೋ ಎಸ್ ಎಂ ಎಸ್ ಮಾಡುವ ಪೀಡಾ ಸಂತೋಷಿಗಳು...ಇವರೆಲ್ಲರಿಗೆ...ತಾವು ಉಗ್ರರ ತಾಳಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಕುಣಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆಎಂಬ ಅರಿವು ಮೂಡಿಸುತ್ತದೆ ಈ ಲೇಖನ...
Are our actions guided by terrorists? New Delhi continues to fumble while India burns. The superior psychological warfare machinery of Pakistan further tied down the already over stretched Indian security forces in knots. Airports and Railway stations are the new fortresses that are heavily guarded. Next will be the Metro stations. Or the shopping malls. The list is endless. This is what the enemy wants – tire and dull the edges of the security forces of India by making them run hither and thither.This is the result of thinking at tactical level like a company commander by those who occupy the strategic domain, which necessitates a visionary generalship. Also, this remains the single important reason why intelligence and police machinery of the Union and the States collapsed. Perpetual red alerts, 24x7 for the past three decades have reduced them to dysfunctional entities with no declared objectives to achieve.
Click here for full article
by Capt Bharat Verma, Editor, Indian Defence Review, Courtesy Sify
Sunday, December 7, 2008
ಕಾಣೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ Missing!
victim of terror attack...
ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 10 ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ದಿನ...
ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕರನ್ನು ತರಾಟೆಗೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಾದ ದಿನ!
ಕ್ರಿಮಿನಲ್ಗಳು , ಜಿಹಾದಿಗಳು , ಎಡ ಪಂಥೀಯರ ಹೊಸ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವೇ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಸ್ತೈರ್ಯ ಕುಂದಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸ?
ಉಗ್ರರು ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯನನ್ನು ಗುಂಡಿಟ್ಟು ಸಾಯಿಸಿದಾಗ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡ ಪಂಥೀಯ ಉಗ್ರರು ಅಮಾಯಕರನ್ನು ಸಾಯಿಸುವಾಗ "ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು" ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕರು, ಬುದ್ದಿಜೀವಿಗಳು, ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಚಿಂತಕರು ಎಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ? ಉಗ್ರರು ಸತ್ತಾಗ, ಎಡ ಪಂತೀಯರನ್ನು, ಪುಂಡರನ್ನು, ಕಳ್ಳರನ್ನು ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಬಂಧಿಸಿದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಇವರು ಹುಯಿಲೆಬ್ಬಿಸುವುದು ಏಕೆ? ಇವರಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಬಲ ಯಾರದ್ದು?
ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ ಹತ್ತರಂದು ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ದಿನಾಚರಣೆ...ಈ ಸೋಗಲಾಡಿ ಬುದ್ದಿಜೀವಿಗಳನ್ನು ತರಾಟೆಗೆ ಏಕೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬಾರದು?
Human rights activists are silent while innocent lives are lost to the terror attacks, leftist terror groups...December 10th is the Human Rights Day...Common man has to take these self styled "human rights activists" into task...ask them why they raise a hue and cry only when some terrorist is arrested or some leftist extremist is encountered?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Terror acts: Sophisticated yet Simple Execution
An important element in terrorist preparation for an attack includes infiltration into the protected environment, under a legitimate cover. Terrorists who want to “case” a train station would for example assume the role of an every day traveler. A terrorist who similarly cases a government facility may assume the role of an employee. In order not to blow their cover, terrorists act as law-abiding citizens, blending into their environment and thus avoiding undue exposure.
Contrary to some common perceptions, terrorists are sophisticated and highly professional when it comes to their chosen occupation.
An important element in terrorist preparation for an attack includes infiltration into the protected environment, under a legitimate cover. Terrorists who want to “case” a train station would for example assume the role of an every day traveler. A terrorist who similarly cases a government facility may assume the role of an employee. In order not to blow their cover, terrorists act as law-abiding citizens, blending into their environment and thus avoiding undue exposure.
Contrary to some common perceptions, terrorists are sophisticated and highly professional when it comes to their chosen occupation.
They may identify several targets to hit simultaneously in order to increase the impact and potential for success, should one or some of the targets fail. They hedge their bets. But while terrorists are sophisticated, their operations are not complex. For example, the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001 were an example of being sophisticated but not complex. Those terrorists used readily available resources (a plane as a bomb) and very simple tools of aggression (box cutters) to commit their crime. The strategy relied on few contingencies, and the unknowns were likewise limited. A narrow range of things could have gone wrong: they had easy access to the plane, they did not carry explosives, there were few barriers to the cockpit, and no mitigation procedures for high jacking scenarios were in effect at the time. The only thing that could go wrong was the possibility that passengers might resist. This was the case for United Airlines flight number 93 that did not hit its terrorist target in Washington D.C and instead crashed onto an open field in Pennsylvania.
The introduction of suicide missions by terrorists has increased the efficiency of an attack.
The introduction of suicide missions by terrorists has increased the efficiency of an attack.
Terrorists are using “human smart bombs” where the bomb takes on human attributes that aid in its effectiveness: it knows when, if, and where to explode. In recent years, terrorists have even gone so far as to introduce several bombers onto the same target. The most notorious users of this method are the Tamil suicide bombers from Sri Lanka who execute consecutive suicide bombings to increase the terror impact.
As security and law enforcement professionals, we must think through the potential terrorist scenarios facing our protected environments. Considering the fact that terrorists do not engage in complex operations helps us focus on those terrorist scenarios that are operationally feasible for execution. But before considering a terrorist scenario as a security issue with which we must contend, we must stop to ask the following questions:
=What tools are needed to conduct an effective terrorist act and what is their availability?
=What information does the terrorist need about the protected environment in order to commit a successful attack?
=What exposure would the terrorist be subjected to while gathering the necessary information and tools for his act?
=How many unknown variables would the terrorist confront in the execution of the chosen scenario?
=How much time would it take the terrorist to execute the scenario (seconds, minutes, hours)?
If your answers to the above questions point to a complex terrorist scenario composed of many contingencies, then it is most likely not a feasible terrorist scenario. If your answers point to a sophisticated and simple form of terrorist execution, where few things can go wrong, then you are dealing with a very feasible terrorist scenario.
Terrorist planning considerations and requirements are very different than those of businesses, governments and legitimate organizations.
As security and law enforcement professionals, we must think through the potential terrorist scenarios facing our protected environments. Considering the fact that terrorists do not engage in complex operations helps us focus on those terrorist scenarios that are operationally feasible for execution. But before considering a terrorist scenario as a security issue with which we must contend, we must stop to ask the following questions:
=What tools are needed to conduct an effective terrorist act and what is their availability?
=What information does the terrorist need about the protected environment in order to commit a successful attack?
=What exposure would the terrorist be subjected to while gathering the necessary information and tools for his act?
=How many unknown variables would the terrorist confront in the execution of the chosen scenario?
=How much time would it take the terrorist to execute the scenario (seconds, minutes, hours)?
If your answers to the above questions point to a complex terrorist scenario composed of many contingencies, then it is most likely not a feasible terrorist scenario. If your answers point to a sophisticated and simple form of terrorist execution, where few things can go wrong, then you are dealing with a very feasible terrorist scenario.
Terrorist planning considerations and requirements are very different than those of businesses, governments and legitimate organizations.
In business, we usually plan and prepare for our missions with consideration to time constraints and monetary expenses. We also assume imperfection and accept the fact that things could go wrong. On the other hand, terrorists (and especially state sponsored terrorists) will be very patient in the planning of the attack doing so with plentiful resources that will insure a trouble-free execution. They cannot afford failure. If the terrorist plan is not executed flawlessly, it will result in possible early detection of the terrorist activity and ultimately failure of the attack. Therefore we have to estimate the potential for a terrorist scenario to occur, not through our own eyes, but through the eyes of a terrorist planning a sophisticated (not complex) and meticulously planned violent act.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದನೆ ನಿಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಜನರ ಸಹಕಾರ ಅಗತ್ಯ
State to have a functional anti-terrorist squad State police establish hotline with Defence and paramilitary forces
BANGALORE: After terrorists held Mumbai for ransom, the KarnatakaGovernment woke up from the slumber and said this time it is seriousin having a fully functional anti-terrorist squad (ATS).After a meeting with Director-General and Inspector-General of PoliceR. Sri Kumar and other senior police officers at the PoliceHeadquarters on Friday, Home Minister V.S. Acharya told presspersonsthat the Cabinet would immediately decide the framework of ATS. The squad would be headed by a Director-General of Police, he said. Call 100 or Toll Free 1800 4250 in case of any info on suspicious activities(The Hindu)
ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಮಾಹಿತಿ...more info
ನಮ್ಮ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಇರುವ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರ ಏಜೆಂಟರು ಯಾರು? / agents for Terror groups
Hundreds dead...Kannadaprabha calls it a joke! ನೂರಾರು ಜನರ ಸಾವು: ಕನ್ನಡಪ್ರಭಕ್ಕೆ ಜೋಕಂತೆ!
When terror strikes...what not to do...ಉಗ್ರರ ದಾಳಿ ...ನಾವು ಹೇಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ನೀಡಬಹುದು?
Hundreds dead...Kannadaprabha calls it a joke! ನೂರಾರು ಜನರ ಸಾವು: ಕನ್ನಡಪ್ರಭಕ್ಕೆ ಜೋಕಂತೆ!
When terror strikes...what not to do...ಉಗ್ರರ ದಾಳಿ ...ನಾವು ಹೇಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ನೀಡಬಹುದು?
What a terrorist wants?ಉಗ್ರವಾದಿಗೆ ಏನು ಬೇಕು?
ಇವರು ಉಗ್ರರ ಪ್ರಚಾರಕರೆ?
ಕನ್ನಡಪ್ರಭದ ಅಪ್ರಬುದ್ಧ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ...
ನೂರಾರು ಜನರ ಸಾವು
"ಕನ್ನಡಪ್ರಭ"ಕ್ಕೆ ಜೋಕಂತೆ
ಉಗ್ರವಾದಿಗಳು ಅತ್ತ ಮುಂಬೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೂರಾರು ಜನರನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ, ಇತ್ತ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಮಿತ್ರರು ಸರಕಾರದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಜನರನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿಕಟ್ಟುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಸೋಜಿಗದ ಸಂಗತಿ.
ಇಡೀ ದೇಶವೇ ಯಾಕೆ, ಪ್ರಪಂಚವೇ ಇಂತಹ Urban ಮತ್ತು Economic ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದನೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಥಮ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ, "ಕನ್ನಡಪ್ರಭ"ದ ನವಂಬರ್ ೨೮ರ ಮುಖಪುಟದಲ್ಲೇ ಪೊಲೀಸರನ್ನು, ಗೃಹಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು "ಮಾಮೂಲಿ ಜೋಕ್ಸ್" ಎಂದು ಹೀಯಾಳಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಹೀಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸರಕಾರದ ವಿರುದ್ದ ಉದ್ರೇಕಕಾರಿ ವರದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸುವುದರ ಮೂಲಕ ದೇಶ ದ್ರೋಹಿ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರ "ಪ್ರೊಪಗಾಂಡಾ"ವೆಂಬ ಹೊಂಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಳುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅರಿವು ಇವರಿಗೆ ಇದ್ದಂತಿಲ್ಲ. ಜನರು ಮತ್ತು ಸರಕಾರದ ನಡುವೆ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಕಂದಕ ತೋಡಿ ಪರೋಕ್ಷವಾಗಿ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ಇಂತಹ ಗಂಭೀರ ಪರಿಸ್ಠಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಬೇಸರದ ಸಂಗತಿ.
ಸರಕಾರದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಜನರನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿ ಸಂಶಯದ ವಾತಾರಣವನ್ನುಂಟು ಮಾಡುವುದು ಆಧುನಿಕ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದನೆಯ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಮುಖ - ಇಂತಹ ಪರಿಸ್ಠಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಖಾದ್ರಿ ಶಾಮಣ್ಣನಂತವರ ಧೀಮಂತರ ಸಂಪಾದಕತ್ವ ಹೊಂದಿ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ನಂಬರ್ ೧ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿ ಮರೆದಿದ್ದ "ಕನ್ನಡಪ್ರಭ"ಕ್ಕೆ, ಈಗ ಸರ್ಕ್ಯುಲೇಶನ್ನಿಗಾಗಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನೇ ಮರೆಯುವ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶ ಬಂದಿರುವುದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಕನಿಕರದ ಸಂಗತಿ.
ಇಡೀ ಗೃಹ ಮತ್ತು ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಇಲಾಖೆಗಳು ಮುಂಬೈ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದನೆ ಕುರಿತು ಸಮಾಲೋಚನೆ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ ಯಾವುದೋ ಆಧಾರವಿಲ್ಲದ ವರದಿ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿ, ಹಿಂದಿನ ದಿನ "ಜೋಕರ್"ಯೆಂದು ತಾವೇ ಹೀಯಾಳಿಸಿದ್ದವರಿಗೆ ಫೋನ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಅಸಂಬದ್ಧ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಕೇಳಿದರೇನು ಮಾಡಬೇಕು ಸ್ವಾಮಿ?
ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಬಳಿ ಯಾವ ಉಪಕರಣ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಬರೆಯುವ ಇವರು...ಉಪಕರಣ/ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಕಂಪೆನಿಗಳ ದಲ್ಲಾಳಿಗಳೇ? ಅಲ್ಲದೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಬಳಿ ಯಾವ್ಯಾವ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ / ತಂತ್ರಗಳು ಇವೆ ಎಂದು ನಾವೇಕೆ ಬಾಯಿ ಬಿಡಬೇಕು? (ಉಗ್ರರಿಗೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ರವಾನೆ ಏಕೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು?)
ಇದೇ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರಾದ ನಕ್ಸಲರನ್ನೂ ಪರೋಕ್ಷವಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸುವಂತಹ ವರದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಪಡೆಗಳ ಧೈರ್ಯ ಕುಂದಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನೂ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದು ಜನರು ಗಮನಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Lessons to be learnt...
ಈ ವೀರಮರಣ ಹೊಂದಿದ ಪೊಲೀಸರ / ಯೋಧರ ತ್ಯಾಗ ವ್ಯರ್ಥವಾಗದಿರಲಿ!ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಳೆಯ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಗಾಗಿ ಅವರಿಂದು ಬಲಿದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ... 
ಇಂತಹ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಅಥವಾ ಯೋಧರಲ್ಲದೆ ಬೇರೆ ಯಾರು ನಮಗೆ ದಿಕ್ಕು? 
ಒಂದೋ ಎರಡೋ "ಶಂಕಿತ" ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರು ಪೋಲಿಸರಿಂದ ಹತರಾದರೆ ಭೂಮಿ ಆಕಾಶ ಒಂದಾಗುವಂತೆ ಗಲಾಟೆ ಎಬ್ಬಿಸುವ ಬುದ್ದಿ ಜೀವಿಗಳು, ಚಿಂತಕರು, ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕರು ಮುಂಬಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 130 ಅಮಾಯಕರು ಉಗ್ರರ ಗುಂಡಿಗೆ ಬಲಿಯಾಗುವಾಗ ಏಕೆ ನಿದ್ರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ?
ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಉಲ್ಲಂಘನೆ ನೆವನದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಪಡೆಗಳ ಸ್ತೈರ್ಯ ಕುಂದಿಸಿ, ಹೈರಾಣ ಮಾಡುವ ಇವರು ಒಂಥರಾ ಉಗ್ರರೇ!
ಇಂತಹ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಅಥವಾ ಯೋಧರಲ್ಲದೆ ಬೇರೆ ಯಾರು ನಮಗೆ ದಿಕ್ಕು? ಭ ಯೋತ್ಪಾದನಾ ಕೃತ್ಯ ನಡೆವ ಮೊದಲುಪೊಲೀಸರು ಉಗ್ರರನ್ನು ಬಂಧಿಸಿದರೆ...ಬುದ್ದಿಜೀವಿ/ ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕರು ಅವರ ಬೆಂಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದುಪೋಲೀಸರನ್ನು ತರಾಟೆಗೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆಂದು ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟಿ !
ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕ ಕೃತ್ಯ ನಡೆದು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಜನ ಸತ್ತರೆಜನರು ಪೋಲೀಸರನ್ನು "ಗುಪ್ತ ಚರ ವೈಫಲ್ಯ" ಕ್ಕೆ ತರಾಟೆಗೆತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಖಚಿತ ! ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆ, ಪೊಲೀಸರ/ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಮೇಲೆ ಜನರ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಕಡಿಮೆಮಾಡುವುದು ಉಗ್ರರ ಉದ್ದೇಶ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಬಲಿ ಬೀಳದೆ ಇರುವುದುಬುದ್ದಿವಂತಿಕೆ!
ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕ ಕೃತ್ಯ ನಡೆದು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಜನ ಸತ್ತರೆಜನರು ಪೋಲೀಸರನ್ನು "ಗುಪ್ತ ಚರ ವೈಫಲ್ಯ" ಕ್ಕೆ ತರಾಟೆಗೆತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಖಚಿತ ! ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆ, ಪೊಲೀಸರ/ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಮೇಲೆ ಜನರ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಕಡಿಮೆಮಾಡುವುದು ಉಗ್ರರ ಉದ್ದೇಶ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಬಲಿ ಬೀಳದೆ ಇರುವುದುಬುದ್ದಿವಂತಿಕೆ!
(ನಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು/ ಅತಿಸೆಕ್ಯುಲರ್ ವಾದಿಗಳು ಯಾರೆಂದು ಅರಿತರೆ ಉತ್ತಮ)
Terrorism presents a challenge to law enforcement since it requires police/agencies to act proactively against crimes (terrorist acts) that in many cases have not yet been committed. (with the risk of facing charges by Human rights activists, in the usual lines of "arrest of the innocent" "encounter" "diversionary tactics" etc.,)If the police wait, as they do traditionally, to react to terrorist crimes after they are committed, then the role of the police is that of a first responder, and an investigator. (again the Police/ forces would be in the receiving end for "intelligence failure" "tactical incoordination" "lack of competence to save lives" "inaction" etc.,) As such, the public demands that the police act to prevent terrorism before it becomes a criminal reality.
So, the message is: please let the investigating agencies do their job, too much curiosity on the part of media, hampers the investigations/ outcome.
Terrorists in our midst...
Terrorism presents a challenge to law enforcement since it requires police/agencies to act proactively against crimes (terrorist acts) that in many cases have not yet been committed. (with the risk of facing charges by Human rights activists, in the usual lines of "arrest of the innocent" "encounter" "diversionary tactics" etc.,)If the police wait, as they do traditionally, to react to terrorist crimes after they are committed, then the role of the police is that of a first responder, and an investigator. (again the Police/ forces would be in the receiving end for "intelligence failure" "tactical incoordination" "lack of competence to save lives" "inaction" etc.,) As such, the public demands that the police act to prevent terrorism before it becomes a criminal reality.
So, the message is: please let the investigating agencies do their job, too much curiosity on the part of media, hampers the investigations/ outcome.
Terrorists in our midst...
ಒಂದೋ ಎರಡೋ "ಶಂಕಿತ" ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರು ಪೋಲಿಸರಿಂದ ಹತರಾದರೆ ಭೂಮಿ ಆಕಾಶ ಒಂದಾಗುವಂತೆ ಗಲಾಟೆ ಎಬ್ಬಿಸುವ ಬುದ್ದಿ ಜೀವಿಗಳು, ಚಿಂತಕರು, ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕರು ಮುಂಬಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 130 ಅಮಾಯಕರು ಉಗ್ರರ ಗುಂಡಿಗೆ ಬಲಿಯಾಗುವಾಗ ಏಕೆ ನಿದ್ರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ?ಮಾನವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಉಲ್ಲಂಘನೆ ನೆವನದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಪಡೆಗಳ ಸ್ತೈರ್ಯ ಕುಂದಿಸಿ, ಹೈರಾಣ ಮಾಡುವ ಇವರು ಒಂಥರಾ ಉಗ್ರರೇ!
Photo courtesy: mangalorean/ daijiworld
Thursday, November 27, 2008
When terror strikes...what not to do!
there are lessons to be learnt...
- Agencies involved in investigations should never be seen/ heard (in contrast everyone in this country was exposed to ATS team- thanks to the "intrusive media")
- Identity of team of investigators/forensic experts should never be revealed- as they can be harmed/ pressurized by terro groups...
- These teams not to lose primary focus-mitigation of threats...
In July 2008, this blog had this post...
Terrorists/ anti social elements don't require sophisticated weapons or even successful execution of their plots to cause panic, fuel media frenzy, and effect massive deployment of law enforcement - well beyond the location of their attack. This has been the case in many terrorist events over the past years, especially in those places where terrorism is not a daily occurrence.
When we react broadly to a narrow event, we are reacting just as the terrorists would hope...
When we react broadly to a narrow event, we are reacting just as the terrorists would hope...
Let's stop a moment to rethink our response, because that's where the terrorists thrive:
Five different communities respond and are influenced, each in its own way, by a terrorist attack:·- The Terrorists - whose agenda is to create maximum physical damage, financial disruption and overall panic.·
- The Public - genuinely terrorized by the event, wants the government to do everything possible to stop the terrorist, no holds barred.·
- Politicians and Public Officials - are pressured to make a response that usually involves a lot of spending, and putting in place hasty strategies.·
- Law enforcement and security professionals - attentive to the will of the public they protect, spare no resources or effort to catch the terrorists.·
- The Media – who let's face it, sometimes benefit from and even effect news coverage that is dramatic- thus providing publicity for an event...precisely what the terrorists want!
A few things are important to bear in mind as we try to define a logical and effective reaction.
The Media have the responsibility for accurately and objectively reporting a terrorist event, as exaggeration would only serve to increase the terrorist effect.
Law enforcement must remain both sensitive and sensible, in other words, not letting their emotions cloud their judgment when investigating terrorism or protecting the public from it.
Politicians are responsible for not leveraging terrorist attacks as a platform for pushing other agendas or justifying irrational expenditures.
- They should also refrain from making hasty comments/ statements which might hamper investigations.
- They should also avoid useless exercises like visiting the victims of terror attacks in the hospital/ visiting the dead, which will not only hamper the medical management but also burdens the local administration and the police – who otherwise should be involved in relief measures/ investigations. (It is a well known fact that, the terrorists target hospitals for secondary attack, as they know that victims of primary attack would be rushed to hospitals along with curious onlookers/ security agencies/ politicians and media!)· It is sad to note that three senior police officers died near a hospital today.
- The Public has the responsibility to look at terrorist events in perspective, and has an important role in balancing the response of the media, law enforcement and politicians, by trying to learn as much as they can about terrorist methods of operation, to understand what the real threat is to them, and identify the appropriate measures to stop them. Ignorance of these methods reduces the public's ability to act as a check and balance to the policies and activities of the other sectors who represent and serve them. Public should also minimize use of cellular network at the time of such terror attacks to prevent network jam (remember that by doing so, you may save lot of lives!)·
If all of us (media, public, law enforcement) were to temper our reaction and response to terrorist events, we would lessen our attractiveness as a terrorist target and reduce the overall impact of the attack.
SHRINIDHI HANDE writes :
BAN LIVE COVERAGE OF HOSTAGE RESCUE
News channels have an objective—to fetch the latest news and share them with viewers, much before a competitor channel does that. But I feel this habit of indiscriminate live reporting, while a combat operation is in progress, can be catastrophic for the success of the military operations against terror.
Let us just think for a while. Do we really need to know everything on a ‘as soon as it happens’ basis? I feel not. Whether NSG commandos have just arrived at airport, or have entered the hotel or are on the first floor or second at this moment, is not necessary to be revealed to the general public on a realtime basis.
Showing such news live, will be immensely useful only to terrorists and their supporters outside.
Consider this. The commandos only know that the militants are somewhere inside the hotel, but the militants know everything about the movements and positions of their pursuers through TV.
Like:
# Who is on their trail (Army/ NSG/ local police, etc)
# What is their ETA (estimated time of arrival), which tells them, how much time they have before a gun battle would begin)
# Where they are right now, at the main entrance/ just entered their floor
# How is the world responding? Is there pressure mounting on the government to succumb to the demands of terrorists to get the hostages freed (so that they can act tough during negotiation)?
# How many of their friends are alive or dead (so that they can assess their strength)?
# What has been the impact of their strike-how many police and civilian dead, the current morale of police, who all as been detained/suspected?
# Live visuals of the street-to assess a possible escape strategy
# What information about them the outside world has (which floor they are in, their head count etc. And much more…
In my view, all this information, while useful to viewers and relatives of victims, also helps the terrorists/ militants to consolidate their position and pose a greater challenge to commandos trying to hunt them down and/ or rescue the hostages.
Why is our media helping them by airing live all the sensitive information about the anti terror operations?
The common man does not need to know them on a live basis.
Can’t the information & broadcasting ministry think of banning live reporting during a hostage crisis? Let the channels air the news with a delay of few hours, so that the police and security agencies will have a lead time of few hours, wherein terrorists would be as equally uninformed as they are.
Please note that I am not advocating censorship. I am all for free speech and expression. What I am proposing, is that security agencies should have the power to impose a delay of say three to six hours w.r.t live reporting of anti terror operations.
Let the TV channels record whatever they want, but they should be aired only after a gap of few hours. I do not think anyone loses anything with this.
The movie A Wednesday also shares same opinion. I feel the good old days of oncein a day news bulletin was far better.
What do you think?
Mumbai under Terror attack: ಮುಂಬೈ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದನೆ...
ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹೋರಾಡಿ ಪ್ರಾಣ ತೆತ್ತ ನಮ್ಮ ರಕ್ಷಕ ಪಡೆಗಳ ಸಿಬಂದಿಗೆ ನಮನ ...
Let us salute the heroes who laid their lives fighting terror...
ವಿವರಗಳಿಗೆ ಚಿತ್ರ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ/ click on image for detailsಚಿತ್ರ ಕೃಪೆ: Mangalorean
Terror attacks...ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕ ಕೃತ್ಯಗಳು
Some forces kept Mumbai ATS/ anti terror cell busy in the past month, over some irrelavent case...
all this when the terror groups were planning an attack on the financial capital of our country...
there are lessons to be learnt...
- Agencies involved in investigations should never be seen/ heard (in contrast everyone in this country was exposed to ATS team- thanks to the "intrusive media")
- Identity of team of investigators/forensic experts should never be revealed- as they can be harmed/ pressurized by terro groups...
- These teams not to lose primary focus-mitigation of threats...
ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಲ ಕಳೆದ ಎ ಟಿ ಎಸ್...ಪ್ರಚಾರ ಪ್ರಿಯತೆಗೆ ಬಲಿಪಶು ?
ಮುಂಬೈ ಆತಂಕವಾದಿ ಕೃತ್ಯಗಳು...ನಾವೇನು ಮಾಡಬೇಕು? ಚಿತ್ರ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ...Our response to terror...click on image
Re- Published in the wake of Mumbai Serial Blasts 27.11.2008
(more on Mumbai blasts/ events)
Re- Published in the wake of Mumbai Serial Blasts 27.11.2008
(more on Mumbai blasts/ events)
photo: rons/ daijiworld
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Technology and Security
Security technology has until lately been believed to represent the ultimate solution for threat. It is, however, prudent to identify and accept the limitations of technology to function only as a tool for the detection (not determination or deployment) of suspicion. For example, an explosive trace detection machine can detect traces of explosives, however, these traces might be a result of gun powder residue from a law abiding citizen who went to a shooting range a day prior to his belongings being checked. In another example, explosive “sniffers” are very sensitive to glycerin, which is a common ingredient of both explosive material and cosmetic creams. The task of discerning whether the detection is a result of the presence of a bomb versus a makeup case is strictly up to the human operator. Technology is a good tool for streamlining security operations and to assist human operators with their tasks, but it cannot be relied upon independently and applied without a threat-oriented and human procedure to support it.
The problem associated with any automated system or algorithm is the security or screening routine that it presents. Terrorists can patiently and successfully learn the system and craft methods to circumvent this security obstacle. Technology therefore has to offer an ever-changing security environment for the terrorist. Since technology has a defined boundary to its capability, the only things that can change in the security system are the “wet” processes (human) and “hard” algorithms (automated) that apply it in the context of a given environment or threat. Applying technology with an evolving and ever-changing mitigation procedure will add contingencies and unknowns for the terrorist and will subsequently harden the target.
(chamelion)
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