How to frustrate the al-Qaeda's diabolical designs on India

The timing of al-Qaeda leader al Zawahiri’s announcement of a proposed branch in the Indian subcontinent is downright mischievous. His attack on the occasion against secular forces is particularly significant in the context of the major political change we saw recently in India. The Intelligence Bureau is said to believe that the video in question is genuine. The al Qaeda’s current mood of despondence, caused by the rise of ISIS (which, incidentally, has reached the limits of brutality), makes it more dangerous than ever before. We should take this development seriously and act swiftly to thwart the unholy design to disturb peace in India. 

We have to build public opinion and awareness rather quickly before any large-scale terrorist strike takes place. This is why I welcome widespread media interest in the matter. It is gratifying that a national debate has been triggered, and this has given the opportunity to several of our right-thinking Muslim leaders to condemn the al-Qaeda plan. What more can we do as responsible citizens to prevent loss of innocent lives from terrorist violence of the kind we saw six years ago in Mumbai? There is plenty.

Despite optimism that we are better prepared than we were before the Mumbai carnage, I have some concerns.

I am not very sure whether we have heard really credible voices from the Muslim community which will have an impact on the thinking of some misguided youths who are lured by terrorist propaganda. Remember that there is a continual traffic between some parts of India and the Middle East, especially to Iraq and Syria. A group of four from near Mumbai had gone to Iraq recently, and one of them was found dead after a bomb explosion. There is no news of the other three. Nevertheless there is reliable information that all four were on a jihadist mission. We don’t know how many more Muslim youths have gone there on a similar mission. Whatever be their number, what counts is their zeal and passion to achieve perceived immortality. 

We would like to see a larger number of leaders of some standing launching a major offensive against any external attempts at indoctrination. A dissemination of the message that favours peace and orderly life could be both at religious and non-religious gatherings, and could take the form of a meaningful question-and-answer format. One only hopes things have changed and the al-Qaeda plans will be condemned in no uncertain manner. 

My second worry is about the state of preparedness of our law enforcement agencies, especially at the police station level. I am not very sanguine if our Constabulary is clued into the subject. This is despite the fact that our police grass roots are now better educated more technology savvy, and more exposed to international trends. While venality promoted by street-level politicians as well as some in the higher echelons of the police itself has corroded professionalism, there is a general laxity that is extremely dangerous. There is casualness because of a weak leadership that has been exacerbated by some poor training even at premier institutions. How else would you explain a recent ban on serving of liquor at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad, following a tragic incident involving an IPS probationer?

Fighting terrorism should become a passion and not remain a ritual within the police. We are living in dangerous times. There are no boundaries as far as crime and wanton destruction are concerned. 

The writer is a former CBI Director