There are no universally accepted definitions for what constitutes terrorism, so it is hard to classify a particular activity as a terrorist activity, which provides terrorists with an edge and allows some countries to remain silent and veto any action at global institutions. Terrorism is defined as the unlawful use of force or violence against people or property in order to frighten or intimidate a government or its populace into pursuing specific political or social goals. Basically any use of violence or anticipation especially against civilians in pursuit of political or social motives is known as terrorism. A terrorist is an individual who uses or threatens to use violence for political purposes. This can be done either by posing as a threat to the people where a terrorist attack is being executed or at the terrorists themselves. Terrorists have been killed by their own bombs on several occasions in order for them to kill people and damage property in their vicinity. In this article, let us discuss terrorism in India and response of government to it.

It is very much relevant in India as thousands loss their lives due to this terrorist attacks and the death toll is continuously rising day by day whether it is in pursuit of gaining some power or putting some demands in front of government or to take revenge or to break down political system, many other reasons do exist some examples of such attacks are like Mumbai attack (2008) , Plane hijack (1999 ), Uri attack (2015) etc.

Terrorism is of two kinds, one is political terrorism which creates panic on a large scale and another one is criminal terrorism which deals in kidnapping to take ransom money. Political terrorism, is defined as an organized campaign of civil violence carried out by a group opposed to an established government, is increasingly being used instead of traditional warfare to gain political ends. It is done by well-trained persons. Hence, it becomes difficult for law enforcing agencies to arrest them in time. It may be domestic or international. Regional terrorism is the most violent among all.  On a smaller scale, groups within countries which feel they cannot gain their ends through political means and smaller nations which feel they cannot press their point through traditional channels have resorted to systematic terrorism. In democratic societies make it is easy for terrorist groups to form and arm themselves, but this set up does not supply the popular political support necessary for such a group to grow.

Kinds of Terrorism in India:

Terrorism Based on Ethnicity:

Ethnic terrorism can be defined as an organization’s or individual’s use of violence, or threat of violence, against that produces fear and influences an audience on behalf of an ethnic identity group that may or may not support the perpetrator’s goals or operations. A subnational ethnic minority uses violence to achieve its objectives. Such violence is frequently directed towards either the establishment of a breakaway state or the supremacy of one ethnic group over others.

Ethnic terrorists often seek to influence their own constituencies more than the country as a whole. Ethnic terrorists frequently seek to foster communal identity, in contrast to an identity proposed by the state. Ethnic terrorists often target potential intermediaries, who might otherwise compromise on identity issues. A secondary goal of the attacks is to create a climate of fear among a rival group’s population.

Examples: Tamil Nationalist organizations in Sri Lanka and insurgent groups in North East India.

Terrorism Based on Religion:

Terrorism in the name of religion has become the predominant model for political violence in the modern world. Religious terrorism is a type of political violence motivated by an absolute belief that an otherworldly power has sanctioned—and commanded—terrorist violence for the greater glory of the faith. Acts committed in the name of the faith will be forgiven by the otherworldly power and perhaps rewarded in an afterlife. In essence, one’s religious faith legitimizes violence as long as such violence is an expression of the will of one’s deity. When compared to other terrorist groups, it adopts various methods of legitimization and rationalization, and these distinctive elements make religious terrorism more harmful in origin.

Example: Palestine-Israel conflict, Jammu and Kashmir terrorism.

Left-wing Terrorism:

Throughout history, violence against the governing elite, primarily by the peasant class, has been driven by so-called leftist beliefs. The writings of Marx and Engels, on the other hand, supplied the conceptual foundation for the left and later violent revolutions. Leftist ideologies hold that all current social arrangements and political structures in capitalist society are predatory in nature, and that a violent revolution is required to effect change.

A number of Left Wing Extremist outfits have been operating in certain remote and poorly connected pockets of the country for a few decades now. In a significant development in 2004, the People’s War (PW), then operating in Andhra Pradesh, and the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI), then operating in Bihar and adjoining areas, merged to form the CPI (Maoist) Party. The CPI (Maoist) Party, is the major Left Wing Extremist outfit responsible for a majority of incidents of violence and killing of civilians and security forces and has been included in the Schedule of Terrorist Organizations along with all its formations and front organizations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The CPI (Maoist) philosophy of armed insurgency to overthrow the Government is unacceptable under the Indian Constitution and the founding principles of the Indian State. The Government has given a call to the Left Wing Extremists to abjure violence and come for talks. This plea has been rejected by them, since they believe in violence as the means to capture State power. This has resulted in a spiraling cycle of violence in some parts of India. The poor and the marginalized sections like the tribal are bearing the brunt of this violence.

Example: Naxalite and Maoist movements in India and Nepal.

Right-wing Terrorism:

Right-wing extremism has had a long history in India with the current atmosphere heavily tilted in favour of right-wing extremists. Relying on secondary sources, it notes that the Indian caste system has played a role in bolstering the Hindu majoritarian identity that is currently dominant in India apart from various other factors, such as the incompetency of other political parties (including left-wing parties). Drawing on several examples, it argues that the unwillingness of the current government to tackle right-wing extremism could facilitate the rise of fringe groups that will eventually turn against the government for being too soft. As such, it aims to be an introductory article for readers unfamiliar with the phenomenon in India. It should be mentioned that religion can be used to encourage rightist aggression.

Example: Caste system in India.

Narco-Terrorism:

Though the phrase narco-terrorism was first used in the scope of drug trafficking-related violence in South America, it has since come to be linked with terrorist groups and operations all over the world, particularly in Central and South-East Asia. Narco-terrorism refers to the nexus between narcotics and terrorism. The sources of terrorism in India lie beyond the domestic frontiers. Afghanistan and the NWFP of Pakistan are the biggest producers of opium in the world, which generates huge sums of money in the international market. The drug proceeds are used by the Pakistan government and the non-government agencies to destabilise India. These two issues are vital in the regional politics of South Asia and the security environment of India.

State-Sponsored Terrorism:

State-sponsored terrorism is as old as conventional war itself. Alongside religious terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism has significantly transformed the nature of terrorist actions worldwide. It is less constrained and produces more casualties on the target. India, a victim of cross-border terrorism, recognized the problem long before the big world powers.

Example: Terrorism sponsored by Pakistan in India

Major Terror Incidence in India:

Bombay Blasts in 1993:

The 1993 (12 March, 1993) Bombay bombings were a series of 12 bomb explosions that took place in Mumbai (then Bombay) on March 12, 1993. The coordinated attacks were the most destructive bomb explosions in Indian history. This was first of its kind serial-bomb-blasts across the world. The single-day attacks resulted in 257 fatalities and 717 injuries and the destruction of properties worth more than Rupees 27 crores. The attacks were coordinated by Dawood Ibrahim, don of the Mumbai-based criminal organisation D-Company.

Parliament Attack in 2001:

On 13 December 2001, terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire. The attack led to the deaths of five terrorists, six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel and a gardener. According to the reports, a note, along with three AK-47 rifles, magazines, and UBGL grenades, was recovered from the site of the attack.  The incidence increased tensions between India and Pakistan, resulting in the 2001–02 India–Pakistan standoff.

Delhi Bomb Blast in 2005:

Three blasts ripped through the national capital just two days before Diwali on October 29, 2005, killing 67 people and injuring over 200. The terrorists had planted bombs in bags at the busy markets of Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj and a DTC bus. These blasts were linked with a terrorist group of LeT. It was said that the serial explosions that rocked Delhi in 2005 were the biggest terrorist strike in India, outside Kashmir, since the 1993 blasts in Mumbai.

Mumbai Train Bombings in 2006:

The 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings were a series of seven bomb blasts that took place over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai. The bombs were set off in pressure cookers on trains plying the Western line of the Suburban Railway network. Over 209 people were killed and more than 700 were injured. On 21 July 2006 police arrested three people suspected to be involved in the bombings. All three are said to belong to the banned SIMI organisation.

Jaipur Blasts in 2008:

On May 13 in 2008, a number of explosions took place in Jaipur. Series of nine bomb blasts in a span of 15 minutes in which around 71 people were killed and more than 185 were injured.

26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008:

The 2008 Mumbai attacks were a series of terrorist attacks that took place on 26^th November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant Islamist organisation from Pakistan, carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai in which around 166 people lost lives and over 300 were injured.

Uri Attack in 2016:

Four heavily armed terrorists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and launched an attack on an Indian Army camp in Kashmir’s Uri on September 18, 2016. The target was a temporary camp, with most soldiers housed in tents, leading to high casualties. 18 soldiers were killed and over 20 injured in the attack. All four terrorists were killed. The Army said terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed was behind the attack. This was the most severe attack on the armed forces in Kashmir. With Pakistan issuing the standard denial of supporting the terrorists, India launched a massive diplomatic effort to isolate Pakistan on the international stage. India also retaliated with surgical strikes across the LoC 10 days later, causing significant casualties to terrorist camps and the Pakistan Army positions protecting them.

Pulwama Attack in 2019:

Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019 is one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were martyred. A Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district. The attack also left many critically wounded. The Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed the responsibility for the attack. On February 26, 2019, a group of Mirage 2000 Indian Air Force’s Fighter jets destroyed the major terrorist camps of JeM across the LoC.

Steps Taken by Indian Government to Curb Terrorism in India:

India, a victim of cross-border terrorism, recognized the problem long before the big world powers. India has always been at the forefront of global counter-terrorism efforts and has been an active participant in the global advancement and safeguarding of human rights.

• In the wake of the 26/11 terrorist attack. In January 2009, the National Investigation Agency was established to deal with terrorist crimes. The National Investigation Agency is India’s counter-terrorist task force, with the authority to investigate terror-related atrocities across states without the requirement of special permission from the states.
• The government has ordered effective border management through round the clock surveillance & patrolling on the border areas. Observation posts have been established. Border fencing, flood lighting, deployment of modern and hi-tech surveillance equipment are among other measures taken by the Centre.
•  Coastal security has been strengthened. The government has imposed tighter controls to prevent increased immigration.
• NGS hubs have been set up in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Empowerment of DG, NSG to requisition aircraft for movement of NSG personnel in the event of any emergency.
• Amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in 2008 and 2012 have been done to strengthen the punitive measures to combat terrorism.
• Amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in 2009 to inter alia, include certain offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as predicate offence.
• 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. Other states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are also seeking similar anti-terror laws.
• To gather information related to security, the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been established with an intention to link data bases for collecting actionable intelligence to combat terrorism and internal security threats.
• The Intelligence and Security agencies maintain a close watch to identify potential terrorist outfits’ recruits and take further action, if necessary.
• An operational hub has been created for the National Security Guard to ensure a rapid response to terrorist attacks.
• To deal with the internal security challenges, government has augmented the strength of Central Armed Police Forces.
• There exists a close and effective coordination between intelligence and security agencies at the Centre and the states level.
• India raised the issues of Cross-Border Terrorism in all its manifestations including its financing in various multi-lateral and bilateral fora as part of India’s zero tolerance policy towards terrorism.
• India has taken attempts to establish Joint Working Groups (JWGs) with other countries to discuss counter-terrorism and security issues. Bilateral treaties or agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLATs) in Criminal Matters have been signed with other countries to facilitate the investigation, collection of evidence, relocation of witnesses, detection and prosecution against proceeds of crime, and so on.
• At the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, India emphasized its desire for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) (UNGA).
• India suggested to outlaw all terrorist organisations and to close terror camp and make cross-border terrorism a global indictable crime.
• India advocates for zero-tolerance against terrorism and is working to develop a common strategy to combat it.
• In 1990, Operation Rakshak was a counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir.
• In 2003, the Indian army launched Operation Sarp Vinash to flush out the terrorists in the Pir Panjal range of Jammu and Kashmir.
• In 2017, Indian security forces began a joint counterattack called Operation All Out, to flush out militants and terrorists in Kashmir.

Conclusion:

Easy access to sophisticated weapons and disruptive advances in technology, especially the cyber world masks the identity of the terrorists, facilitates real time secure communications and the flow of funds increased terrorist activities worldwide. These elements have collectively made terrorism the most preferred means of waging war. Despite the grave threat, the international community is far from reaching a consensus on how to fight this menace collectively. India also remains highly vulnerable to terrorism by foreign terrorists, due to porous borders with all its neighbours and a long coast line. Resultantly, the terrorists and the insurgents continue to receive material support and funds from many sources.

India’s experience in fighting insurgency/terrorism in the North-East, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir has seen commonalities in the causes of the problem, which range from mis-governance to economic deprivation. The solution in fact lies in the problem itself; remove the cause and the problem ceases to exist. For that to happen, a political and not a military solution is required. But the problem has now grown beyond internal conflict. Involvement of foreign terrorists, who plan, collect funds, train more and more terrorists and organise terrorism/insurgency from outside the country, gives it a transnational character. There is a requirement to address the problem through international cooperation. Also, it is necessary to reach a consensual definition of terrorism.