View Point: Worrying internal security

September 23, 2009

The States have been sternly ticked off by the Centre as never before for not doing enough to tackle the country's internal security. Little has been done by way of reforms, despite repeated reminders. Nothing has, for instance, been done to set up police establishment boards to decide transfers and postings of police personnel. Some States have even reduced cops to "a football to be kicked from one post to another." Worse, most State governments have failed to provide adequate funds for the police, whereas security should be the first charge on the State exchequer! Importantly, the Centre's despair was first spelt out candidly by the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram while inaugurating a three-day Conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police on internal security in the Capital on Monday last. At the same time, he offered a solution to the top cops: "Why do you remain silent when arbitrary postings and transfers are made by the State Governments?...Is it not your duty, as heads of State police to raise your voice not only on behalf of your officers but also on behalf of the people that you are duty-bound to protect." The big question is: When will mindsets and old habits change?

Strong criticism came the next day from the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who lamented that little success has been achieved in dealing with Left-wing extremism, the "most serious" internal security threat. Latest statistics reveal that the Naxalites have their pockets of influence in 20 States. More than 20,000 police station areas in 223 districts in these States had been affected. Of these, the CPI (Marxists) remains the most potent of the Naxal group with presence in 17 States and a 90 per cent share in Naxal violence. Violence has been consistently witnessed in about 400 police stations areas of about 90 districts in 13 of these States. Last year 1,591 incidents of Naxalite violence, resulting in 721 killings, were reported from 399 police stations areas of 87 districts of 13 States. This year's figures are not far behind. There were 1,405 incidents of Naxal violence resulting in 580 killings already from 355 police stations in 78 districts of 11 States

( cENTRE cHRONICLE)