New Delhi May 16: There has been commendable improvement in the Security Situation of the North East. Militancy has ended in most parts of the North East region and remaining pockets where there are still few instances, there also militancy has lost its support. Effective counter insurgency, responsive development orientation and improved relation with the neighboring countries are responsible in bringing about the desired positive change. However few armed gangs in some parts of the region are carrying out activities like extortion, kidnapping and abduction under the cover of militancy.
With the efforts undertaken by government for fast track development of road, rail, air and digital infrastructure and the empahsis given for local human resource development, it is believed that it will bring positive result in the security situation of the region. Our Act East Policy has opened doors for South East Asian Markets.
North East India is very rich in matters of human and natural resources. It is important that we create an enabling peaceful and secure environment in this region so that these potentials can be adequately utilised. In this relation we need to undertake efforts, the security eco-system has been vitiated by the age old militancy problem in this region. With the improvement in the security situation it is important that police invest its orientation towards normal police function for effective crime prevention and detection.
Unfortunately in some North Eastern States prosecution and conviction ration of criminal cases is very poor. For instance in one State the prosecution ration is as low as 5 per cent as compared to 86 per cent all India average. In many States the cases of abduction, kidnapping and extortion are very rampant. However, the prosecution and conviction ratio of these cases is lower than per cent, and this is not acceptable.
A common man loses his faith from the justice system when a criminal manages to escape from court even after committing crime. And when the acquittal rate is very high, it not only undermines the moral legitimacy of the state but also incentivises crimes. Poor investigation is the root cause of such high number of acquittals. It has been observed that the scientific tools of investigation are not adequately used in these regions. The performance of the forensic science laboratories has also not been satisfactory in most of the North Eastern States. It is essential that Police chiefs and state government put special attention in this regard.
In these region there has been increase in the proliferation of illegal arms. Although militancy cease to exist in most of this region, the presence of such high numbers of illegal arms has resulted in increase of crimes. I would like to advise all the DGPs of the States to venture into organised campaigns against the traders of illegal arms and theirs holders.
The entire North Eastern region in the west, except the Siliguri Corridor, is connected with international boundaries. There has been smuggling of illegal arms, drugs, narcotics and fake Indian currency through these borders. These border areas are practically un-policed. It is essential that adequate numbers of police stations are set up in these regions so policing can be prioritized in the border areas. This will not only bring down cross border crimes but also develop a sense of security among the citizens living in these regions.
Radicalisation has emerged as a big challenge so far as future security threats is concerned. Radicalisation is a trans-national phenomenon. If it is not nipped in the bud it can develop into terrorism in the future. The sensitivity of North East and the adjoining areas in these cases makes these regions even more vulnerable. Therefore it is of utmost import that the agents of radicalisation are identified at the earliest.
Some of these agents are working under the cover of religion. Whereas some are operating in the name of NGOs and socio cultural and educational organisation. It is essential that we closely monitor their activities and take pre-emptive action wherever required. Many of their activities are funded by foreign agents. It is also essential that we closely monitor the flow and utilisation of these foreign funds.
Another emergency security threat is cyber crime. Instances of cyber crime are increasing throughout the world. Cyber space is being utilised for financial crimes as well as for creating unrest and instability. As we all know how our enemies have misused cyber space for creating instability after ethnic clashes in Assam in 2012. There is an urgent need for enhancing our capability to investigate cyber crime as well as to reduce the misuse of digital media. It is essential that well-equipped cyber forensic laboratories are set up in the North East states as well as to create a sizeable pool of IT trained police officers.
Few issues like repatriation of Brus Tribes from Tripura to Mizoram and granting citizenship to Chakmas and Hajongs, who are residing for 50 years in Arunachal Pradesh, are pending from long time and these need to be resolved at the earliest. The settlement of these issues will reduce tension and crimes in these regions. In this regard it is essential that state governments extend their active support so that we can resolve these issues at the earliest.
Many ethnic armed organisations are engaged with the government for peacefully resolving their grievances. It is essential that their armed cadres are kept in designated camps and as well as it is also essential to observe some of the agreed ground rules of the engagement. For instance I have been informed that few of them are associated with violent activities like extortion, kidnapping etc. These activities are serious violation of ground rules. It is essential that their unauthorised movements outside the designated camps is immediately stopped and those who break the law should be dealt firmly as per law. India is a plural democracy and is bestowed with diversity. People from different race, culture and religion live here peacefully.
This diversity is more pertinent in the North East. People in the North East are living together peacefully from thousands of year. With the growth of modern state there has been rise in competition for resource and power. Healthy competition lead to betterment of quality and services but undue competition can lead to tension among people. Sometimes it is evident in the form of regional and ethnic aspirations. This kind of negative articulation should be firmly discouraged in the most sensitive manner.
People of the North East especially the youths are very aspirational. They are looking forward for a better and prosperous future and they want to go forward together along with progress in other parts of the country. It is our responsibility that we create an enabling environment for them. Come let us act together to create a better and prosperous future for our own North East.
