Terrorism has been practised throughout history and throughout the world. The ancient Greek historian Xenophon wrote of the effectiveness of emperors such as Tiberius (reined A.D. 14-37) and Caligula (A.D.37-41) who used banishment, expropriation of property and execution as means to discourage opposition to their rule. The Spanish Inquisition used arbitrary arrest, torture and execution to punish what it viewed as religious heresy.
Terrorism was openly espoused by Robespierre as a means of encouraging revolutionary virtue during the French Revolution, leading to the period of his political dominance, called the Reign of Terror (1793-94). After the U.S. Civil War (1861-65), defiant southerners formed a terrorist organisation called the “Ku Klux Klan” to intimidate the supporters of the Reconstruction.
In the latter half of the 19th century, terrorism was adopted by the adherents of anarchism in Western Europe, Russia and the U.S. Anarchists, bullets and bombs killed a number of kings, presidents, prime ministers and other government officials. In the 20th century, terrorism became the hallmark of a number of political movements. It was adopted virtually as a State policy by some totalitarian regimes like those of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. Terrorism has also been used by one or both sides in anti- colonial conflicts.
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In democratic countries, the people can express their views without any fear. They can even criticize the acts of their Governments. They can air their grievances or put forward their demands through constitutional means. If the genuine grievances are not looked into or just demands are not conceded, the people have other democratic and non-violent means available to them to focus the attention of the Government and the people to their grievances or demands. These means are demonstrations, rallies, strikes, fasts, etc. Issues agitating the minds of the people can also be raised in Parliament.
Great leaders like Mahatama Gandhi of India and Martin Luther King of U.S.A. believed in democratic and non-violent means. In fact, Mahatma Gandhi astounded the world by freeing India from the yoke of the mighty British Imperialists by resorting to Satyagrah and other peaceful and non-violent methods of struggle.
However, in recent decades, some people have started resorting to terrorism to press their demands. Terrorism is based on violence and vengeance. It is at creating terror or fear in the minds of the people. It is a coercive device to make the Government relent. Often it is the innocent and helpless who become its victims.
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Terrorists use a number of methods to instil fear. They plant bombs and there explosive devices at public places. They shoot down men, women and hildren. They indulge in sabotage. They blow up railway tracks or bridges to brail trains. They assassinate political leaders to create chaos. They hijack aeroplanes and dictate their own terms to release the passengers. They loot anks and commit daylight robberies.
Terrorism is not confined to India alone. It has spread its tentacles throughout the world. Even a super-power country like the U.S.A. is not free from the menace of terrorism. A terrorist group called the United Freedom Front has been trying to overthrow the Government. In Britain, the Irish terrorists are operating against the Government. To press for their demand of “Eelam”, the Tamil Tigers are indulging in the killing of Sinhalese forces in Sri Lanka.
In India, terrorists were active in Punjab; their main demand was “Khalistan”, i.e. a separate homeland for the Sikhs. Terrorists are alleged to be involved in the assassination of a number of prominent public figures including Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, Lala lagat Narian, Mr. Lalit Makan, Mr. Arjun Das and General A.S. Vaidya, retired Chief of the Army. According to the former Prime Minister of India, late Shri Hajiv Gandhi, there appears to be a deep-rooted conspiracy to destabilise India by acts of terrorism. Terrorists are known to have prepared “Hit Lists” of persons who are to be the target of their attack.
In order to curb the activities of the terrorists, the Government of India passed the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Bill in May, 1985. This Bill contained stringent measures to fight terrorism. It provided for death penalty for a terrorist whose action leads to the death of one or more citizens. It also provided for rigorous imprisonment ranging from 3 to 7 years for acts of terrorism. The offences under this Act were tried by special courts. No appeal against the judgement was allowed.
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Apart from enacting a law against terrorism, the Government of India has deployed a number of companies of paramilitary forces to comb the hideouts of extremists and nab them. The investigation of cases of murders in Punjab has revealed that terrorists were receiving training in Pakistan in the use of sophisticated arms and getting arms and ammunition from that country.
The U.S. concerns were triggered by the June 1996 bomb attack on its military personnel in Daharan in Saudi Arabia. The bomb attacks on the US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam in 1998 and explosion in USS Cole in the Gulf in 2000 and the latest terrorist blitz on the WTC and Pentagon on September 11,2001 resulting in loss of property worth billions of dollars as well as more than 5000 lives. Allegedly mastermined by the Saudi millionaire, Osama bin Laden, from his hideouts in Afghanistan convinced Washington that international co-operation is a prerequisite for curbing state-sponsored terrorism.
Similarly in a suicide attack, five armed terrorists barged into the Indian Parliament House premises and gunned down seven persons before security personnel killed them on December 13, 2001. Seventeen others were injured in the strike. One of the terrorists had explosives strapped to him and blew himself up. No Member of Parliament was injured in the attack. But the Vice-President had a narrow escape. His security men were killed by the terrorists.
Terrorists in India combine religion with politics. They carry out political propaganda from religious places. They store arms and ammunition in religious places. They commit crimes and escape to religious places. This is a dangerous: trend. It needs to be curbed. Those who manage religious places should ensure that the sanctity of religious places is maintained and that these places are not used for political purposes or harbouring of criminals.
There are basically three conditions which can make a person advocate or practise terrorism as a means of coercion. First of all, a person who has suffered a blow to his image, ego or esteem tends to resort to an act of terrorism to assert him and attract attention. Secondly, if a person feels that he has become ineffective as an individual, he becomes an instrument of a larger group or gang thirdly, if one suffers from a feeling of want or alienation, one is likely to f indulge in an act of terrorism so that one gets recognition, is negotiated with \ and is able to bring one’s adversaries to their knees.
Terrorism calls for a multi-pronged strategy. Laws alone are not enough, the co-operation of the people is very crucial for fighting this malady. Recently, elections were conducted in Jammu & Kashmir for the State Legislature for: electing a people’s Government in the state. Though militants and certain political j parties backed by militants had warned people not to vote in the elections, I people showed courage and defied the warnings given by militants and made (use of their franchise.
By doing this, people not only have defeated militants I and anti-social elements but also co-operated with the Indian Government in the latter’s efforts to bring peace in the disturbed State of Jammu & Kashmir. I People should not allow terrorists to succeed in their nefarious aim of creating communal disturbances and chaos. Whenever terrorists resort to killings, le people should not overreact. They should remain calm and peaceful. The government, on its part, should remove situations of undeserved want, social press ion, racial discrimination and exploitation, wherever they exist.
For the last few years, disturbances have also taken place in certain states Ike Assam and Andhra Pradesh. But the people of the States and the Indian lovernment have shown proper understanding and have defeated the aim of Organisations which are bent upon doing acts of terrorism.
one of the most violent terror attacks on Indian soil, Mumbai came fader an unprecedented night attack as terrorists used heavy machine guns, Including AK-47s, and grenades to strike at the city’s most high-profile targets the hyper-busy CST (formerly VT) rail terminus; the land-mark Taj Hotel at the [Gateway and the luxury Oberon Trident at Nariman Point; the domestic airport at Santa Cruz; the Cama and GT hospitals near CST; the Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dock-yard on 27-1 1 -2008.
On the very first day of these terrorist (attacks more than 80 people were killed and over 200 injured. In the encounter, lie ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, ACP Ashok Kamte and encounter cop Vijay ‘Salaskar lost their lives. Understanding the gravity of the situation, National Security Guards were called to Mumbai. It took them 60 hours to put an end to this bloody game. These terrorist attacks claimed 183 lives and left as many as p27 injured. Among the dead there were 22 foreign nationals, 2 NSG commandos,15 Maharashtra cops and 2 homeguards. The operation was over on November 9, 2008 when the last three terrorists were killed.
The Government should also create legal, orderly and easily accessible channels for the redressed of genuine grievances of all sections of the people, particularly the minorities the intellectuals of the country like writers, poets, ‘actors, journalists, etc. can help the Government by creating public opinion lagainst the menace of terrorism.