The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamsuddin Ahmed

Who poses the greatest security threat to India? Maoist, Pakistan's secret agency ISI or communalism?

BBC on August 30 quoted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as saying earlier that "the Maoist insurgency is the single biggest threat to India's security." Chief of Indian Army Gen Joginder sharing the concern of the Prime Minister had said, "Indian Army is keeping a close watch on Maoist rebels operating in the country's eastern, central and southern states," in the wake of rising attacks and violence that posed a serious security threat.

The Indian Home Ministry published a report on August 29 raising security concern of the region. The report identified ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) of Pakistan as the biggest security threat to India. The report also involved perceived "insurgent groups of Bangladesh are working under the shadow control of ISI."

Communal problem remains endemic in India. Apart from Kashmir where Muslims are subjected to persecution, communal violence frequently flares up in different states when the minority communities are butchered shaking the very roots of secular India. Orissa is the latest example where scores of Christians have been killed since communal violence erupted on August 23. Tens of thousands fled homes and 45,000 Christian schools have been closed across India.

The Indian Home Ministry report, believed to be based on intelligence gathered by its agencies, should naturally raise serious security concern for not India alone but all the countries of the region. For, the ISI plans is said set to use terror groups for launching attacks with chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological weapons, the affect of which will certainly travel beyond the Indian territory.

"Terror groups backed by Pakistan's ISI spy agency could use chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological weapons against India, initiating a form of 'super terrorism', said the report.

It said ISI has been expanding its networks in India from Jammu and Kashmir to down south. "Active terror modules are mushrooming in Bihar, Assam and West Bengal where the sleeper cells have been assigned with specific targets."

The report cautions that ISI moles may also use aircraft, buses or other means which are commonly available to cause heavy casualties. "Various insurgent groups active in Bangladesh are under the shadow control of ISI … South India too is an important part of the overall ISI game-plan since it is being targeted to recruit unemployed youths," added the report.

Bangladesh Foreign Ministry ridiculed the report. "It's a fantastic nonsense," said a senior official requesting anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the press. "There is no insurgent groups in Bangladesh." He cited a number of recent tragic incidents in India, which, according to the media reports, have caused either by Maoists, ULFA rebels or VHP.

Mr Jagmohan, a former governor of Jammu & Kashmir and former union minister gave a resume of the rapid growth of Maoist raising security threat to India. He wrote under the heading 'Maoist movement has entered a stronger phase' (February 2, 2008), "Three major groups - Maoist Communist Centre, People's War Group and CPI (ML) - have merged to form a united outfit called CPI (Maoist). It affirmed, "The revolution will be carried out and completed through armed agrarian revolutionary war; that is, protracted people's war with the armed seizure of power remaining as its central and principal task, encircling the cities from the countryside and thereby finally capturing them."

CPI (Maoist) declared, "It supports the struggle of the sub-nationalities for self-determination, including the right to secession."

The concern of security threat has redoubled in India following the Maoist election victory in next door neighbour Nepal. Former Foreign Minister Mr Jaswant Singh on June 2 cautioned, "Indian Maoists of the red-corridor are known to have close contacts with Nepalese Maoist. A collusion of the Maoist of the two countries would pose greater security threat to India."

Indian Institute of Conflict Management reports that Maoists have gained grounds in 192 districts of 16 States. They are well organized and more active in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh states.

At least 12 police officers were killed early this week in mine blasts planted by the Maoists rebels in a remote area of Jharkhand.

Communal strife has posed no less a threat to the security of India. Protracted independence struggle in Kashmir has led to the persecution of Muslims. Communal violence frequently occurs across the country have shaken the very basis of secular India. The 2002 pogrom of Gujarat is still fresh in many Indian minds. More than 1200 Muslims were killed, women rapped, homes torched and shops plundered evoking worldwide condemnation.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its militant wing Bajrang Dal preaching Hinduata have posed threat to life and property of the minorities. The latest example is Orissa where scores of Christians have been killed since August 23. A Catholic daily published from New Delhi reported on September 1, "Tens of thousands of Christians persecuted by VHP and Bajrang Dal fled homes for fear of lives. Some 45,000 Christian schools and most of the Churches have been closed. A priest from Bhuvenswar dashed to New Delhi and pleaded in vain with the President and the Prime Minister to stop the carnage. "For 8 days killing of Christians and torching their homes continued …We will have no option but to raise Suraksha Vahini (militia force) for our security," the priest told the newsmen. He declined to give his name saying he is under threat of life by VHP cadres.